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Lady Gaga Delivers Emotional Oscar Performance Only to Get Robbed of Best Original Song

The Oscar nominee delivered a powerful live version of "Til It Happens to You."

By Jocelyn Vena Feb 29, 2016, 11:59 AM ET

Lady Gaga and her powerhouse vocals brought down the house when she took the stage at the Academy Awards on Sunday to perform her Oscar-nominated song, "Til It Happens to You." The performance was especially emotional given that Gaga was joined by survivors of sexual assault, an act that paid homage to the song's lyrical content. The song was included in the documentary The Hunting Ground, which examines sexual assaults on American college and university campuses.

Lady Gaga at the famed Vanity Fair Oscars after party after taking the stage at the Oscars on Feb. 28.

Mother Monster's performance was introduced by Vice President Joe Biden, who encouraged Americans to take action and sign a pledge against campus-related sexual assaults. "Let's change the culture," the VP said. His words and Gaga's performance led many to answer the call. "We must, and we can," Luann de Lesseps wrote on Twitter, sharing that she had taken part in the initiative.

Powerful Vice President Joe Bidena d @ladygaga I take the pledge https://t.co/FnJVZOJfIX #safe
— Luann de Lesseps (@CountessLuann) February 29, 2016

Stars applauded Gaga for her powerful statement, including Kesha, who has been vocal about her own experience with sexual assault.

#ItsOnUs
These survivors. Wow.
Floored by the courage. And beauty. And realness. #Oscars @ladygaga Thank you.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) February 29, 2016
thank u @ladygaga and VP @JoeBiden for bringing attention to sexual assault at the oscars. it hit very close to my heart for obvious reasons
— kesha (@KeshaRose) February 29, 2016

#@ladygaga 's performance moved me to tears. What a powerful, and inspiring performance. Thank you for this raw and...
Posted by Gretchen Rossi on Sunday, February 28, 2016

Wowowow what an incredible moment for Lady Gaga and everything this song represents #sobrave #tilithappenstoyou
Posted by Rachel Zoe on Sunday, February 28, 2016

Prior to her performance, Gaga shared a message with Kesha about how she would be thinking of her while on stage at the Academy Awards. The Oscar nominee has been supportive of the "Warrior" singer in her legal battle against music producer Dr. Luke, who she alleges sexually assaulted and emotionally abused her during their working relationship.

.@kesharose I'll be thinking of u 2nite. This is not over we'll stand by u until you are free to live a HAPPY life. Everyone deserves that.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 28, 2016

After stealing the show, Gaga opened up about her own experiences with sexual assault and how her fiance, Taylor Kinney, changed her thoughts on love. "I never thought anyone would ever love me because I felt like my body was ruined by my abuser," she wrote on Instagram. "But he loves the survivor in me. He's stood by me all night proud and unashamedly. THAT'S a real man."

I never thought anyone would ever love me because I felt like my body was ruined by my abuser. But he loves the survivor in me. He's stood by me all night proud and unashamedly. THATS a real man. ??
A photo posted by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on Feb 28, 2016 at 7:24pm PST

Despite the strong reaction from the crowd and those at home, Gaga and co-writer Diane Warren lost the Best Original Song award to Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes' "Writing's on the Wall" from 2015 Bond film Spectre. But judging by the response, Gaga's impact did not go unnoticed.