It’s not very often that someone is able to make a public service announcement that’s at once respectful of the subject at hand while at the same time bitingly honest. This is one of those rare moments.
In an ad for the anti-domestic-abuse group Refuge, YouTube makeup artist Lauren Luke (who has developed a pretty devoted fan base thanks to her makeup tutorials) put together this satirical tutorial, showing domestic abuse victims how to cover up their bruises using makeup. Here’s a little background info from Luke herself from Ad Week:
To open up and be honest about something like this makes us feel weak among our friends and family, but in actual fact there is nothing weak about it. Those who are abusive behind closed doors are the ones who are weak. Back then I knew the whole situation wasn’t normal, but I didn’t know about the help that is out there. And that is why I wanted to work with Refuge—to get the message out to anyone who may need help and support that it’s time to stop covering it up.
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It’s hard to watch, yes, but it’s a pretty honest look into the lives of abuse victims, both men and women, who are too afraid to speak out against their abusers. It’s unfortunate, yes, but speaking out about domestic abuse requires a ton of bravery, as well as support from friends and family. If you or someone you know is suffering domestic abuse, for god’s sake, do everything in your power to get them out of there.
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