Sir Elton John is not staying quiet about this issue. The English musician icon has opened up about his bullying experience and encourages those being bullied to speak out as well.
Bullying effects everyone — even high-profile celebrities.
English megastar Sir Elton John has opened up in an exclusive interview with E! News, in which the singer and songwriter says he has struggled with bullying in his life, even as an adult.
“It was about control and them being able to keep me under their thumb,” says Elton to E! News’ David Burtka. “Even though I was famous and a big deal, it doesn’t matter, it’s who you are underneath that, and I was always kind of shy and intimidated.”
The “Candle in the Wind” hitmaker says that his experiences were “violent” and “mentally violent,” and that the bullies were people who were part of his life. The six-time Grammy winner says that he now encourages people to take a stand against their bullies and tell someone about what is happening.
“Speak out, speak out. Snitch on them. Try to defend yourself, not like me, who hid it and thought it was OK to just go on like it,” says Elton. “We have to nip this in the bud, too many people have died. Too many young people have committed suicide because they’ve been frightened of 15-16-year-olds.”
Elton John isn’t the only celebrity who has taken a stand against bullying.
“Born This Way” artist Lady Gaga has also been very vocal in the fight for acceptance and prevention of bullying with her Born This Way Foundation, a group that empowers youth and focuses on issues such as anti-bullying and self-confidence.
Last month, Lady Gaga launched the nonprofit group in full force at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre with the help of major television celeb Oprah and other government dignitaries.
“If every single person in this room just told one single human being that’s not here about everything we talked about, it’s all about spreading the message,” says Lady Gaga in the speech she gave at the launch, according to Guardian UK. “[The purpose of Born This Way is]… to challenge meanness and cruelty by inspiring young people to create a support system in their respective communities.”
Photos courtesy of Jody Cortes / WENN.com
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