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Taylor Swift delivers emotional speech on anniversary of sexual assault trial

Taylor Swift delivers emotional speech on anniversary of sexual assault trial

One year ago, Taylor Swift had just won her lawsuit against a man who sexually assaulted her at a meet and greet in 2013.

During her Reputation concert last night, the exact anniversary of the day the judge agreed with her version of events, she was close to breaking down in tears as she opened up to the crowd in Tampa

She took a moment to speak about people whose own sexual assault stories are not believed or taken seriously, saying "we have so much further to go" when it comes to believing victims of sexual assault.

The singer also thanked the crowd for their support.

The crowd held up $1 bills after her impassioned speech, the symbolic amount she was awarded following her case against former Denver radio DJ David Mueller.

Taylor said the dollar served as an "example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts".

She was honoured as one of Time magazine's 'Silence Breakers' for their Person of the Year issue.

Many fans had been aware of the anniversary of the trial and had come to the gig prepared.

The concert also provided dollar bills.

You can read the full speech below:

This exact day a year ago, I was not playing a sold out stadium in Tampa. I was in a courtroom in Denver, Colorado, and I was there for a sexual assault case.

This day a year ago was the day the jury decided in my favour, and said that they believed me.

I guess I just think about all the people that weren't believed, and the people who are afraid to speak up because they think they won't be believed.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry to anyone who wasn't believed, because I don't know what turn my life would have taken if people didn't believe me when I said that something had happened to me.

I guess I just wanted to say that we have so, so, so much further to go and I am so grateful to you guys for being there for me during what was a really, really horrible part of my life.

I just wanted to say that and I wanted to thank you for everything.

I know that when I meet you guys at meet and greets before and after the shows, you tell me about the hard times you've gone through in your lives, and I really appreciate you trusting me with that information.

You guys have seen me go through so many ups and downs in my life, just due to the public nature of the way my life is, and I'm just so happy to see you and to have you and to know you through the ups and downs of my life.

Thank you for everything.

I'm sorry, I just haven't really talked about it, so I'm just not composed at all.

A while ago, I wrote a song that's about how I feel when you guys come together and are so wonderfully supportive and incredible. For me, this song is always going to be about you. Ups and downs, win or lose, you guys have always been there for me.

So thank you for that.

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