Gabrielle Union Shares Her Own "Man Down" Story

The violent finale at the end of Rihanna's new music video for the song "Man Down" has sparked much conversation about domestic abuse, rape and revenge. Actress Gabrielle Union tweeted her opinion on the video, speaking out about her own rape, saying, "Every victim/survivor of rape is unique, including how they THINK they'd like justice 2 be handed out ... During my rape I tried 2 shoot my rapist, bt I missed. Over the yrs I realized tht killin my rapist would've added insult 2 injury."

Union has spoken publicly in the past about the attack she suffered while working the night shift at a shoe store in California when she was 19 years old. But this is the first time she's shared the details of her struggle to fight back against her attacker. Her story supports Rihanna's video as being reflective of real situations that happen off of a music video sound set. Even though she can empathize with Rihanna's violent retaliation in the video, she doesn't think revenge is the solution. She tweeted, "The DESIRE 2 kill someone whose abused/raped u is understandable, bt unless its self defense n the moment 2 save ur life, just ADDS 2 ur troubles."

Finally, Union reminds us all of the good that came from Rihanna's provocative video: "#Mandown video did a GREAT job of getting the ENTIRE world Talking abt RAPE. I hope tht it leads 2 HEALING & PREVENTS RAPE."