Heartbreaking Lady Gaga assault story revealed during first episode of The Me You Can't See series

The Me You Can't See has premiered, and a heartbreaking Lady Gaga assault story surfaces in the series' debut episode. The pop sensation is one of several subjects to sit down for Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry's mental health project, and in it, she gets candid about her tragic experience. Her emotional reveal is leaving viewers completely shaken.

• The Me You Can't See: A look inside Oprah and Prince Harry's mental health series for Apple TV+

The docuseries is meant to highlight psychological and emotional trauma and destigmatize the concept of mental health struggles.

"To make that decision to receive help is not a sign of weakness," Prince Harry says in the documentary's teaser. "In today's world, more than ever, it's a sign of strength."

In an effort to help others heal, Lady Gaga—who has been a mental health advocate for years, including her work to end sexual assaults on college campuses with President Joe Biden—opened up about her frightening experience at 19 years old, something she says still affects her to this day. 

Lady Gaga assault story: what happened?

In The Me You Can't See, Lady Gaga reveals that a producer raped and impregnated her when she was 19 years old.

Gaga, who goes by her birth name Stefani Germanotta in the series, said: “I was 19 years old, and I was working in the business, and a producer said to me, ‘Take your clothes off.' And I said no. And I left, and they told me they were going to burn all of my music. And they didn’t stop. They didn’t stop asking me, and I just froze and I—I don’t even remember.”

Years later, that past trauma reared its head, manifesting as chronic pain. The Oscar winner said: “I was sick for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks after, and I realized that it was the same pain that I felt when the person who raped me dropped me off pregnant on a corner at my parents' house because I was vomiting and sick. Because I'd been being abused. I was locked away in a studio for months.”

She continued: “I’ve had so many MRIs and scans. They don’t find [anything], but your body remembers. I couldn’t feel anything. I disassociated. It’s like your brain goes offline. You don’t know why no one else is panicking, but you are in an ultra state of paranoia.”

• Therapy vs counseling: what's the difference and which is better for you?

Lady Gaga assault story: how is she coping?

Although she's now 35 years old, Lady Gaga's sexual assault still impacts her to this day. She even recently attempted physically harming herself, thinking that it would ease the pain from the experience from 16 years ago. 

"It's a really, very real thing to feel like there's a black cloud that is following you wherever you go, telling you that you're worthless and should die. I used to scream and throw myself against the wall," she sadly admitted.

However, she did note that finding a support system is crucial and depending on "one person who validates you" is incredibly helpful. Essentially—like Prince Harry notes—asking for help is a sign of strength. 

The Me You Can't See docuseries 

Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry's series is now available to stream on Apple TV+. 

In the trailer for the docuseries, we catch a glimpse of subjects of all ages, races, and genders from around the world as they touch on difficult issues they've encountered. Some faces will be familiar: Actress Glenn Close and NBA players DeMar DeRozan and Langston Galloway join Lady Gaga to discuss their journeys. 

"Everybody thinks [healing] is a straight line, that it's just like every other virus. That you get sick and then you get cured. But it's not like that, it's just not like that," Lady Gaga said. 

Prioritize your mental health and do not be afraid to seek help when needed. Even when it might not feel like it, there's support available. Explore these services from Better Help or The National Alliance on Mental Health.