Tarana Burke Redefines ‘Me Too.’ Movement

Tarana Burke, the visionary behind the ‘me too.’ movement, is ushering in a new era. As the movement approaches its 10th anniversary in 2027, Burke is shifting the focus from mere awareness to tangible, systemic change. She’s assembled a powerful collective of influential figures to redefine the conversation around sexual violence.

Introducing The Disruptors Council

Burke has unveiled the Disruptors Council, a formidable group comprising powerhouse voices from various sectors. This collective includes acclaimed actress Viola Davis, actress and advocate Gabrielle Union, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, WNBA star Breanna Stewart, media personality Bevy Smith, author Padma Lakshmi, therapist Kier Gaines, and activist Marley Dias. Their unified mission? To place prevention at the forefront of the conversation, moving it from an afterthought to a primary focus.

“The Disruptors Council represents what we’ve always believed: that real change happens when we work together to address the systems that allow sexual violence to persist, not just respond to its effects,” Burke stated, emphasizing the need to move beyond simply reacting to incidents.

From Awareness to Action: Prevention is Key

Burke is clear: awareness alone does not prevent violence. While the viral success of the #MeToo hashtag was crucial for sharing stories and validating survivors’ experiences, Burke has always been focused on the critical phase that follows public attention. The reality is that sexual violence remains prevalent – affecting one in three women globally, according to the UN – yet cases are often treated as isolated incidents rather than symptoms of a larger systemic issue.

The strength of the Disruptors Council lies in its diversity. By bringing together individuals from entertainment, politics, sports, media, and mental health, the group aims to tackle sexual violence from all angles. Their collective influence is expected to push prevention conversations into unexpected spaces, making the issue feel less like niche advocacy and more like common sense.

I speak up because change starts with raising our voices and standing for what’s right. I disrupt by challenging the status quo in ways that create opportunity, understanding, and progress for everyone. — Gabrielle Union

Members like Viola Davis, a survivor and daughter of a survivor, are stepping up to break the silence and dismantle the stigma. Gabrielle Union, drawing from her own experiences as a survivor and mother, is committed to challenging the status quo for generational progress. This council represents a strategic evolution, transforming a grassroots movement into a lasting infrastructure focused on treating sexual violence as a preventable public health crisis.