Celebrities Display Raw Emotion, Are Rendered "Speechless" in New, Unscripted NO MORE PSAs on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Footage created as part of Joyful Heart Foundation NO MORE PSA shoots directed by Founder Mariska Hargitay

WHAT:  Today, a new series of NO MORE domestic violence and sexual assault PSAs will begin rolling out, featuring more than a dozen celebrities who are so moved by the content of the shoot that they are left without words. Entitled “Speechless,” the newest PSA series created by the Joyful Heart Foundation for  the NO MORE movement is a raw, unscripted and powerful video collection that shows the candid responses as these men and women attempt to talk about domestic violence and sexual assault. The PSAs will be seen on USA Network (Dec. 10), NBC (Dec. 11), on several Viacom brands (starting Dec. 15), and during NFL broadcasts this season.

“Speechless” was not planned. It was an unexpected byproduct when emotions ran high while shooting other scripts previously aired. The spots are stark, spare visually and use only ambient sound. “Speechless”  was designed to shed light on how difficult it is to talk about these taboo, hidden and painful subjects. The spots reveal the depth to which we are all affected by these previously unspeakable issues. They urge viewers to start a conversation about domestic and sexual violence with friends and loved ones.

NO MORE is a public awareness and bystander engagement movement around domestic violence and sexual assault, and is comprised of hundreds of national and local groups that are working to address these issues in the United States. 

The NO MORE PSAs are the result of an unprecedented collaboration of celebrities, athletes, corporations, foundations and service providers who have donated their resources to bring these hidden issues into the public eye in a way that has never been done before. They were developed pro bono by Rachel Howald at the global ad agency Y&R (Young & Rubicam), produced by the Joyful Heart Foundation and Viacom’s social responsibility umbrella Viacommunity and Viacom Velocity; directed by Joyful Heart Foundation founder Mariska Hargitay; and photographed by renowned celebrity photographer Timothy White. 

Similar  “Speechless” PSAs featuring current and former NFL players (watch here) aired during NFL broadcasts on Thanksgiving Day for more than 92 million viewers, an advertising value of $2.1 million. 

Since October 23, NO MORE PSAs featuring NFL players have been airing each week during NFL broadcasts reaching 16.6 million people per game - more than 590 million in total. The original, celebrity NO MORE PSAs launched in September 2013 and have since aired more than 39,000 times nationwide.

For more information about NO MORE visit www.nomore.org. 

WHY: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 3 women 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, and stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Twenty four people every minute - more than 12 million women and men - are victims of physical violence, rape and stalking from their partners in one year. 

The 2013 “NO MORE Study,” commissioned by the Avon Foundation for Women reveals that despite the vast numbers impacted by these crimes, people are not talking about them. Three out of four (73%) parents have not had a conversation about domestic violence or sexual assault with their children.  

Simply starting a conversation about these issues can help – as 64% of Americans say if we talk more about domestic violence and sexual assault, it would make it easier to help someone.

NO MORE is helping to get the conversation started.

WHEN: Dec. 10-15, 2014

WHO:  Celebrity participants in the “Speechless NO MORE” PSAs include the following (and PSAs will be rolling out with select talent):

• Andre Braugher
• Blair Underwood
• Camryn Manheim
• Chris Meloni
• Dann Florek
• Danny Pino
• Dave Navarro
• Debra Messing
• Hilary Swank
• Ice T
• Jemima Kirke
• Kelli Giddish
• Keshia Chante 
• Mariska Hargitay
• Mary J Blige
• Max Joseph 
• Megan Hilty
• Raul Esparza
• Shad Moss
• Sway Calloway
• Tim Gunn

CONTACT:  Kate Hunte - 251-406-0920; kate@finnpartners.com

About NO MORE:

NO MORE is a public awareness and engagement campaign focused on ending domestic violence and sexual assault. Using its signature blue symbol to increase visibility and foster greater dialogue, NO MORE seeks to break social stigma, normalize the conversation around domestic violence and sexual assault, and increase resources to address these urgent issues. NO MORE is aligned with hundreds of organizations working at the local, state and national levels on prevention, advocacy, and services for survivors. To find out how you can get involved, visit www.nomore.org. Or for regular updates, follow NO MORE on Twitter @NOMOREorg or Facebook www.facebook.com/NOMORE.org.