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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Gloria Gaynor says she spoke about sexual abuse so people who have experienced it could know that life can move beyond what happened. In a PEOPLE interview published alongside Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, she put her hope plainly: “They need to know that they can get past those things, you can survive, and you can thrive.” The film connects that message to her own life and to the song that became her signature.
Why Gloria Gaynor chose to share her story
Gaynor’s reason for speaking about abuse was to offer hope to others who had experienced it. Her words describe her intention in telling her own story; they are not a guarantee that every survivor’s recovery will look the same or follow the same timetable.
The PEOPLE-attributed quotation appears in a secondary report by Total News, which reproduces the interview. It captures the personal emphasis of the documentary: Gaynor is speaking from her own experience, rather than prescribing a universal path through trauma.
How “I Will Survive” became more than a hit
In a separate Associated Press interview published February 12, 2024, Gaynor said “I Will Survive” became her mantra when she first read its lyrics, before she had heard the melody. She described the song as a reminder of who she is and as a way to encourage and empower others.
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“That song, for me, is the core of my purpose, which is to bring hope, encouragement, inspiration and empowerment to people – especially women.”
The Recording Academy records “I Will Survive” as the winner of the 1980 Grammy for Best Disco Recording. In the documentary, the song’s message is set against Gaynor’s experiences, including childhood sexual assault and later personal and professional hardships.
What the documentary follows
Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive links the story behind the song with Gaynor’s journey through difficult periods in her life and her move toward gospel music. The Associated Press describes that gospel journey as part of the film’s narrative.
Production publicity describes an eight-year effort to write and record a gospel album amid divorce, financial difficulties and health concerns. That framing leads to Testimony, Gaynor’s 2019 gospel album. The Recording Academy says the album earned her a second Grammy.
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The film had a theatrical release date of February 13, 2024, according to Conduit Media production publicity. Disney+ currently catalogs it as a 2025 music biography documentary directed by Alicia K. Harris, with a listed runtime of 1 hour 28 minutes. These dates reflect different contexts: the theatrical date comes from production materials, while Disney+ supplies its own catalog year and runtime.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to find the documentary
Disney+ has a listing for Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, but a catalog entry does not establish that the film is available in every country. Check your local Disney+ catalog for current availability and the runtime shown for your edition.
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