When Chelsea Manning was released from prison this week, we had a major reason to celebrate. This true American hero, who gave up her liberty in the fight for governmental transparency, was finally free. She wore Converse sneakers! She ate pizza! She was on Instagram! There was much to celebrate.
A strange bonus in Manning's freedom is a YouTube clip that was uploaded the day before she was released in which Lady Gaga (Stefani Germonatta if you've been following A Star is Born) interviews Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Recorded in 2012, the clip shows the two discussing Manning (using her deadname, as this was before Manning came out as a trans woman). It's chilling to hear them talk about the possibility of Manning receiving the death penalty, reminding us that while the hero is now free, our government sought to punish and silence her by any means necessary. Assange explains that Manning's lawyer has told him Manning's horrific treatment in prison is "an attempt to coerce him into making a confession against me and the Wikileaks organization."
Gaga at one point tells Assange that he "may be an enemy of the state, but you're not an enemy of humanity."
This video is as bizarre as it is fascinating. And it hurts to see full-on
Born This Way Gaga, weirdly stilted faux-European accent and all. Girl, we miss you, take off the cutoffs.