WHAT: New Viacom-produced “NO MORE” PSAs will run throughout the summer across Viacom’s networks including, MTV, Spike, Comedy Central, TV Land, BET and more.
The PSAs were directed by founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, actress and advocate Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and produced by Viacom Velocity Creative with Executive Vice President Viacom Velocity Creative Niels Schuurmans and Viacom’s social responsibility umbrella Viacommunity.
NO MORE is a public awareness movement focused on ending domestic violence and sexual assault. Supported by major national and local organizations working to address these urgent issues, the goal of the NO MORE PSA campaign is to help normalize the conversation and break the social stigma surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault. By increasing visibility and fostering more dialogue, NO MORE seeks to change social norms and raise these issues higher on the public agenda.
The PSAs can be viewed here.
WHO: The new PSAs feature a unique collaboration of Viacom celebrities including:
- MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway
- Spike Ink Master host Dave Navarro
- VH1 Big Morning Buzz Live host Nick Lachey
- MTV Catfish stars Nev Schulman and Max Joseph
- BET 106 & Park hosts Bow Wow and Keshia Chanté
Additional celebrities in the PSAs include: Sophia Bush, Courteney Cox, Blythe Danner, Anthony Edwards, Tim Gunn, Mariska Hargitay, Jemima Kirke, Natasha Lyonne, Chris Meloni, Debra Messing, Christa Miller, Danny Pino, Andrew Rannells, Samantha Ronson, Ice T, and Blair Underwood.
WHY: As the nation continues to confront the epidemic of sexual assault on colleges and universities across the country, is it imperative that these issues are taken out of the shadows and discussed. The 2013 NO MORE study, commissioned by the Avon Foundation for Women and conducted by leading research firm GfK uncovered that while the majority of Americans know victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, most people do not talk about it or take action to help. The survey reports that 54 million Americans have been a victim of domestic violence and 32 million Americans say they have been a victim of sexual assault, yet there is significant silence and inaction around the problem.
Among the key findings:
- There is a huge disconnect when it comes to perceptions of domestic violence. While most Americans (80%) believe it is a problem in society – only 15% think it is a problem among their friends.
- One of the reasons for this disconnect is that there is basically no discussion about domestic violence or sexual assault taking place in the country. Three out of four (73%) parents with children under the age of 18 said that they have not had a conversation about domestic violence or sexual assault with their children. 67% of Americans say they have not talked about domestic violence with their friends; even more, 73% have not discussed sexual assault.
- Even though 75% of Americans say that they would step in and help a stranger being abused, the reality is most people do not help.
- For example, among the 70% of women who experienced domestic violence and then told someone about it, more than half (58%) said that no one helped them.
- But 64% of Americans say if we talk more about domestic violence and sexual assault, it would make it easier to help someone.
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