LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The woman who spoke movingly from the Grammy stage about her experiences with domestic violence says the segment was inspired by a visit to the White House by Grammy show producer Ken Ehrlich.

After President Barack Obama made a video appearance calling on musicians to pledge to stop domestic violence, Brooke Axtell took to the Grammy stage to speak about her own experiences. Her life was saved, she said, when she sought help at a domestic violence centre.

Katy Perry followed her with a solemn performance of “By the Grace of God.”

Axtell said afterward that both she and Perry were honoured by the opportunity to address the issue before such a large audience.

“We’re at a stage in the movement for social justice where we are in desperate need of having male allies, and that means confronting within our own communities when violence occurs and making sure there are interventions for those who have abused and been abused,” she said.

She noted she was aware both Rihanna and Chris Brown were in the audience when she spoke. Brown has faced a string of legal troubles since beating Rihanna before the 2009 Grammy Awards.

Neil Portnow, the recording academy’s president, said neither Rihanna nor Brown was consulted before the segment aired.

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— Sandy Cohen — www.twitter.com/APSandy.