Michael Kovac/WireImageGabrielle Union is speaking out about a traumatic incident she faced decades ago.
The actress revealed on The View that she was raped at gunpoint at the age of 19.
But despite the horrific situation, Union was adamant about not letting it consume her life.
"I got sick of people letting me off the hook," she explained on the talk show. "Being a victim is so comfortable. It makes you lazy."
She admitted that unconditional love and support from her friends and family helped her at first, but she quickly grew resentful of the attention.
"I hated the cloak of victimhood," she continued. "I realized they were going to allow me to be a victim, and not succeed and not achieve my goals."
The star of BET's Being Mary Jane added that she's since decided to "embrace being a survivor, because that's who I am."
Union also shared, "I wasn't raised to be coddled. I was raised to be an independent woman, standing on my own two feet, and that's the road I opted to take."
Union became engaged to NBA star Dwyane Wade in December of last year, after dating for almost four years.
After the exciting news was formally announced, Union wrote, "Sooooo this happened... #Yessss @dwyanewade," on Instagram which not only showed off her ring, but also Wade holding onto her hand.
"She said YES!!! @gabunion," Wade posted on Instagram, along with the same shot.
This marks the second marriage for both Union and Wade.