'The Bully Project': 5 Celebrities Against Bullying

03/09/2012

The documentary The Bully Project premieres in theatres today and it seems everywhere you turn celebrities are joining together to try to end bullying. There are many projects out there that allows celebs to talk about their own experiences with bullying. Specifically the "It Gets Better Project," gets celebrities to make short videos telling viewers that life doesn't, and shouldn't, end with bullying. That it does, in fact, get better. Everyone has been bullied at some point, and maybe they then became a bully, but it's an issue that people across the world deal with. Just because it happens doesn't mean it should and doesn't give people right to bully others.

In honor of the film, here are five celebrities who are outspoken leaders against the violence.

1. Lady Gaga

Just last week, Lady Gaga launched her Born This Way Foundation aimed at empowering youth. At the launch, Gaga and others discussed ways to stop bullying in school. It didn't need to be a big change, but maybe a kid telling another kid who isn't popular that they like their shirt. Gaga believes small moments like that can help change a person's life for the better. The singer told the audience at the launch, "The culture of love is not going to change overnight. We have to start slowly, but you are the answer, and know that, and go home and take with you that you are the future." Lady Gaga has stated in the past that she hopes to make bullying illegal after the suicide of bullied teen Jamey Rodemeyer.

2. Ellen Degeneres

Using her talk show as a platform, Ellen Degeneres discusses bullying a lot. Whenever a teen commits suicide because of bullying Degeneres urges viewers to do everything in their power to stop it. Whether it's talking to teens or volunteering at phone help lines, the comedian wants her audiences to be proactive. On her website, she has a page dedicated for resources to help stop bullying, including hot lines and anti-bullying campaigns. This week on her show, Degeneres joined with Katy Butler to petition to change he MPAA rating for The Bully Project from a "R" rating to a "PG-13" so more kids will go see the film and schools will be allowed to show it. Here's the video:

3. Anderson Cooper

The CNN talk show host takes this issue very seriously; so seriously that he dedicated an entire week to a town hall on bullying called "Bullying: It Stops Here," in October 2011. In the week-long special, Anderson Cooper invited the director of The Bully Project, Lee Hirsch on to discuss the film. Cooper also had celebrities on for their reactions to the movie. In addition to segments on the film, Cooper had students who were suing a school over it's bullying policy; bullying solutions for schools and adults; and teens on who intervene when they see bullying happening. Like Degeneres, Cooper also has pages dedicated to anti-bullying research and resources here and here.

4. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift opened up to Ellen Degeneres back in 2011 saying the whole reason she started writing songs was because she was alone most of the time. She would overhear other students talking about parties that everyone was invited to except for her but it was okay. The singer told herself "it was ok because I can write a song about that later. And here I am...still saying that when I go through tough times, so it's worked out." Swift even won a Grammy for her song "Mean" that is about growing up being bullied and coming out on the other side a successful person in life and happiness.

5. Chris Colfer

As Kurt Hummel on Glee, Chris Colfer seems to have dealt with bullies since the pilot episode. In real life, the actor has also experienced it. When past bullies message him now, Colfer is always polite, but doesn't forget. He says he's still bitter about what happened to him growing up and even with all his success, he would probably run the other direction if he saw one of his bullies. When Colfer won a Golden Globe in 2011 he made sure to discuss bullying in his speech. "Most importantly, to all the amazing kids that watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates, who are constantly told 'no' by the people in their environments, by bullies at school that they can't be who they are or have what they want because of who they are. Well, screw that, kids."

Don't forget to see The Bully Project in theatres today!

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