Lady Gaga Gives Emotional Speech at L.A. Vigil for Orlando Shooting Victims: 'This Is an Attack on Humanity It
On Monday, Lady Gaga made a surprise appearance at the Los Angeles vigil for the victims of the tragic Orlando nightclub shooting, and shared emotional words with the gathered crowd of thousands.
“As we have now witnessed the largest mass shooting in American history, I can’t help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, this is an attack on humanity itself,” said Gaga, who was dressed simply, in all black. “Tonight, I gather humbly with you, as a human being, in peace, in sincerity, in commitment, in solidarity, to take a real moment and mourn the tragic loss of these innocent, beautiful people.”
The singer and actress was scheduled to attend an Emmy For Your Consideration event for her FX show, American Horror Story: Hotel, on Monday, but the event was canceled in the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy.
“Tonight I will not allow my anger and outrage over this attack to overshadow our need to honor those who are grieving truly for their lost ones, lost members of the LGBT community,” she told crowd gathered outside L.A. City Hall, before reading the names and ages of each of the 49 victims. “I hope you know that myself and so many are your allies.”
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Anderson Cooper also opened his evening broadcast on CNN on Monday by reading the names of the victims that have been identified so far, growing visibly emotional and choked up as he told stories of the 49 men and women that lost their lives on Sunday.
"There is one name that you will not hear on this broadcast tonight, one picture of a person you won't see," Cooper said. "We will not say the gunman's name or show his photograph, it's been shown far too much already...In the next two hours, we want to keep the focus where we think it belongs, on the people whose lives were cut short."
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Gaga first spoke out on Twitter following the shooting on Sunday, saying, “I pray for all the victims families during this shooting epidemic. That their pain be met with compassion and support from the world.”
“It's a traumatizing and emotional time for a many people,” she added. “I dream of the world reflecting on what we can do to change this violence. #Orlando.”
See more celeb reactions to the horrific shooting in the video below.
WATCH: LGBT Groups, Celebs and Public Figures Pay Tribute After 49 Victims Killed in Orlando Nightclub Shooting