Brooke Axtell Interview: Meet the Domestic Abuse Survivor Who Performed With Katy Perry at the Grammys
“Authentic love does not devour another human being.”
The first time Brooke Axtell met Katy Perry was three days ago, when they rehearsed for the Grammys. Tonight, they’ll take the stage together, as Perry sings her ballad “By the Grace of God” and Axtell reads a written-word piece she penned specifically for the occasion. So who is Brooke Axtell?
Axtell is an Austin-based writer, activist, and performance artist. She’s also director of communications for Allies Against Slavery, a nonprofit that fights human trafficking. Axtell herself was trafficked by her nanny when she was seven years old, she says. And this experience made her more vulnerable to experiencing domestic violence later in life, she explains—a major risk factor for entering abusive relationships is sexual abuse before the age of 18. As an adult, she was involved in an abusive relationship that helped spur her toward activism. Now, at age 34, she’s used to speaking in front of crowds. But until tonight, she’s never performed for a live audience of more than a thousand people.