life parents something.org). And the Cartoon Network has recruited numerous stars for its “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” campaign, including tennis champion Serena Williams, “Modern Family” actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and the cast of “Level Up.” Meline Kevorkian, a bullying expert who also serves as assistant provost at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, says one of the most influential antibullying crusaders in recent years has been pop star Lady Gaga. The singer/songwriter known for her outlandish fashion sense, who created her Born This Way Founda-
I didn’t.’ And we’ll say, ‘Well, look at their lives now. They decided to keep going on and make something of their lives. And who’s laughing now? Them or the bully?’” STOMP Out Bullying also is looking to get more sports figures involved with its mission, including a new partnership with FOX Sports that brought in anchors Michael Strahan and Howie Long among others. While stars like Lovato are great for troubled girls, “We’ve seen spikes in our website and are getting lots of emails” from boys who respond to people from the world of sports, Ellis says. We love working with Even if you’re reasonably cercelebrities who have been bullied, tain that your kids are not being because kids identify with them. It bullied—and that they aren’t bulreally helps kids to know that they’re lying anyone else—just taking a not the only ones, and it shows moment to watch one of these them that there is hope. PSAs with your children can spark a worthwhile conversation. – Ross Ellis, founder and CEO, STOMP Out Bullying Start by Googling “celebrity antibullying campaigns,” and look “We get feedback like, ‘I love for a star whose opinions your Demi, I’m so glad she’s helping, she kids will want to hear. really makes a difference,’” Ellis “I think the most important says. “They always, always menmessage here is to start the diation how much they love her.” logue,” Kevorkian says. “Talk to Another star whose mesyour kids about the way to treat sage has been particularly their friends, and the way not to important is former ‘N Sync treat them. I always relate this to singer Lance Bass, who not teaching your child to brush their only admits to having been teeth. A parent has to tell them bullied himself, but also every day, ‘Brush your teeth, brush to having laughed when your teeth,’ until finally they know others made homophobic what they’re supposed to do and jokes in order to hide his what they’re not supposed to do.” own sexual orientation. Still, it can’t hurt to get a little reSo when a teen calls inforcement from outside sources. the STOMP Out Bully“When they see these messages ing hotline to talk about on TV, when a celebrity talks on a suicide, Ellis says, countalk show about bullying and how selors will sometimes use it’s not OK and their experiences, Lovato as an example for then it’s a great opportunity for girls or Bass for gay boys. parents and grandparents to start “We’ll ask, ‘Do you the conversation,” Kevorkian says. know that Demi Lovato was “Because too often, that conversabullied?’ or ‘Do you know tion doesn’t start until something that Lance Bass was bullied?’” has already happened.” O Ellis says. “And they’ll say, ‘No,
tion to promote tolerance, has spoken publicly about her humiliation at being thrown in a trash can in high school. “Whether kids are being bullied face-to-face or online, they very often feel that they’re responsible for it,” Kevorkian says. “They tend to think they’re not cool enough, not pretty enough, too fat, whatever it may be. So when they see someone who is idolized (and admits to having been bullied), then it helps them realize, ‘It’s not me.’”
But when it comes to famous people speaking out on this issue, “The younger the better,” Kevorkian says. “If it’s not someone that teens recognize as important or cool, it’s not going to be as effective. They have to see it as their fellow peer.” In the case of Demi Lovato, for example, Ellis says the anti-bullying message has particularly resonated with teens because the actress/ singer has been so open in general about her struggles with eating disorders, cutting and bipolar disorder. Her honesty about topics that so many teen celebs cover up has inspired great affection from fans who feel they can relate to her.
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