- Gabrielle Union shared a photo of Black Lives Matter activist Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, who was confirmed dead by police on June 13, to Instagram.
- In the post, the actress called Salau, who recently opened up on Twitter about being sexual assaulted, a "warrior.”
- Gabrielle has opened up about being raped when she was 19.
Trigger warning: This article contains detailed descriptions of sexual assault.
Gabrielle Union shared a heartbreaking tribute to the late Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau on Instagram. Salau was a 19-year-old activist who joined recent protests for Black Lives Matter. She had been reported missing, and the Tallahassee Police Department confirmed her death on June 13, per Tallahassee Democrat.
Gabrielle wrote in the caption: "She was 19. 19. 19. A baby. Oluwatoyin 'Toyin' Salau was a 19 year old warrior who fought for US. She reported her sexual assault to police and days later was found murdered. The horrors she faced, the trauma she endured, all by 19 years old."
The actress continued, pleading: "Who cares for little Black girls, Black teens, Black women? Toyin deserved so much more. She fought for so much more for all of us. I can't shake it. I am her and she is me."
Gabrielle mentioned her own experience as a rape victim and survivor in the caption: "I am alive to talk about surviving my rape at 19. She is not.. The work continues. The fight continues. The reckoning will continue. Toyin should be here. She was 19. A baby. Hold our babies tight. Love them. Protect them. Support them. 19."
Salau had shared details of her assault on June 6 on Twitter. "He came disguised as a man of God and ended up picking me up from nearby Saxon Street," she tweeted. "I trusted the holy spirit to keep me safe."
Gabrielle has also opened up about her experience in graphic detail. She wrote about being raped at gunpoint in her book, We're Going To Need More Wine and shared excerpts with Glamour.
"He threw me to the ground and was suddenly on me, spreading my legs as he kept the gun on my head. As he raped me, I began to hover over myself. I could see the whole room. I looked at that poor crying girl and thought, Things like this happen to bad people. Things like this don’t happen to people like me...
Finally, he ripped the gun out of my hand. He pointed the barrel at my head and stood over me. 'Now I’m gonna have to kill you, bitch.' ... As quickly as it all happened, he was calm. And again, he said, very casually. 'How do I get out of here?' I pointed to the back exit, and he went out and I was alone. I never saw him again."
The investigation into Salau's death is ongoing and the Tallahassee Police Department has a suspect in custody, per People. There is a GoFundMe campaign to help her family with expenses.
Black Lives Matter
-
Travis Kelce Rented Out an Entire Restaurant for Taylor Swift and His Team Post-Football GameGrand gesture alert!
-
IMHO, These Items Wear the “Impulse Buy” Badge With Pride
You’ll soon see why.
-
JP and Taylor Got Engaged in 'Love Is Blind'—But What Happens Now?
Teasers show that there's trouble ahead once they get to Mexico.
-
Sarah Hyland and Adam Devine Play 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
The 'Modern Family' stars reunited for the 'Pitch Perfect' spinoff series.
-
The 78 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes of All Time
Honestly, we're impressed.
-
Super Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Woman
From childhood snapshots to portraits as a young princess, beautiful and rare photos of the late Queen Elizabeth as a young woman.
-
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla's Relationship: A Timeline
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles has ascended to the throne as king.
-
Who Is Next in Line for the British Throne, Explained
And yes—Harry and Archie are still in the line of succession.
-
Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Fiancé Riley Roberts?
AOC's husband-to-be is an "easygoing redhead" who lives with her in D.C.
-
68 Times the Kardashians Posed Fully Nude and Owned It
And we mean fully nude—as in, not a shred of clothing.
-
Who Is Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles's Fiancé and NFL Player?
"The easiest yes!" Simone wrote about the couple's engagement.
