Gabrielle Union has spoken out in defence of Rihanna's controversial new video for 'Man Down'.
'Man Down', which features Rihanna shooting an apparent rapist at a train station, was criticised by the Parents Television Council for allegedly "accepting murder", though Rihanna has insisted that the video is "art with a message".
Union, who was raped at the age of 19 by a stranger during a robbery, was asked by a fan via her Twitter page what she thought of 'Man Down's approach to the subject of violence.
"#Mandown video did a GREAT job of getting the ENTIRE world TALKING abt RAPE. I hope tht it leads 2 HEALING & PREVENTS RAPE (sic)," she wrote on the social networking site.
"During my rape I tried 2 shoot my rapist, bt I missed. Over the yrs I realised tht killin my rapist would've added insult 2 injury. 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 #mandown."
Union added: "Every victim/survivor of rape is unique, including how they THINK they'd like justice 2 be handed out."
