Top 10 Celebrities Who Were Bullied at School
It doesn't matter who you are: no one had it easy in school. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Celebrities Who Were Bullied at School.
For this list, we're taking a look at the celebs that had an especially tough time in their formative years and at some point have spoken out about it.
Special thanks to our users Sara Cohen, MikeMJPMUNCH and others for submitting the idea on our Interactive Suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 Celebrities Who Were Bullied at School
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It doesn’t matter who you are: no one had it easy in school. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 celebrities who were bullied at school. For this list, we’re taking a look at the celebs that had an especially tough time in their formative years and at some point have spoken out about it.
#10: Eminem
Although it may be hard to picture today, a young Marshall Mathers was often harassed at school. Seemingly always the new kid since his family moved around a lot in his youth, Eminem allegedly suffered numerous physical assaults from bullies, the worst of which resulted in a broken nose and his hospitalization for a cerebral hemorrhage at nine years of age. Following a bullying incident that left Mathers with head injuries, his mother was forced to sue the school. Mathers would later name check one of his worst bullies in the song “Brain Damage,” only to be sued for $1M by the man, a lawsuit that was resolved in Eminem’s favor in 2003.
#9: Kurt Cobain
Whether in his music, religion or family life, the lead singer of Nirvana constantly struggled to find belonging and meaning in this world. Starting from when his parents divorced when he was nine, Cobain never had the familial support he longed for and desperately needed, leading him to first bully others as an outlet for the anger he felt towards his parents. It was his friendship with a gay classmate that led him to become the victim of bullying and a target for homophobia. True to Cobain’s complex nature, he actually said he liked being erroneously labeled a homosexual, because not only did it upset homophobic people, it also meant that - for the most part - he was left alone.
#8: Rihanna
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It’s hard to believe that this Barbados-born pop icon and international symbol of beauty was once bullied for the same physical features that are now desired by people around the world. Growing up, the singer faced ridicule about her body, which only added to the problems she endured in her home life. Meanwhile, with some Irish heritage in her father’s family, Rihanna’s lighter skin tone was often the source of racism from peers who felt that wasn’t black. She would later speak more candidly of her experiences of racism in the industry in an interview with The New York Times Style Magazine, to bring these incidents into the spotlight.
#7: Christian Bale
Bale’s career has been defined by a number of roles that have utterly consumed him. Active in Hollywood since he was 13 through his performance in “Empire of the Sun,” Christian Bale’s success didn’t exactly earn rave reviews from the kids in the schoolyard. Instead, his big screen debut earned him a constant stream of punches and kicks from his peers. In an early indication of his suitability to play Bruce Wayne, he gained a lot of attention from the girls, producing much resentment from the boys who physically took their jealousy out on Bale. When speaking to People magazine about his experiences, he said that “If you can face the bullying at school and come through it stronger, that is a lesson for life.”
#6: Christina Hendricks
Best known as the no-nonsense Joan from “Mad Men,” Hendricks took her share of emotional hits in her youth. During her teens she experimented with different hair colors and styles, leading bullies and even her own mother to admonish her for her “goth girl” appearance. When she switched schools, kids would sit on top of her locker and spit at her. Hendricks would later compare her high school days to Lord of the Flies. She eventually found solace and common ground with her theater group, a society whose support would eventually lead her into her career as an actress.
#5: Jackie Chan
A true pioneer of comedic martial arts choreography, Chan’s success and legacy can be traced back to his experiences at both ends of the bullying spectrum. His father put him in martial arts school for his bad behavior, but he also found himself bullied due to his inability to defend himself. Chan claims he was bullied until the day he saved another child from bullies, and learned to stand up for himself in the process. He has carried the respect and discipline from those early lessons into his adult life, striving to be a role model for children and has even funded a number of educational institutions to give kids the very best chance of making the most of themselves.
#4: Demi Lovato
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Not only has the singer convincingly shown every one of her childhood bullies that they couldn’t break her, she has helped countless people around the world deal with similar situations. Lovato’s mental health issues, eating disorder and drug abuse all have roots in her school experiences: cruel kids concocted hate petitions about her and never let the torture end, sometimes even going to her house to torment her. Eventually Lovato left traditional schooling and instead graduated as a home school student in 2009. The performer would later lend her fame as a spokesperson for PACER- an anti-bullying organization- and remains a passionate supporter of anti-bullying causes.
#3: Lady Gaga
With such an effortlessly unusual public image, it may seem that Stefani Germanotta was destined for the pop star lifestyle. Although she is now an inspiration to millions of her Little Monsters, Gaga’s naturally quirky ways made her a regular target for bullying. Students would write nasty things on her locker or pinch and insult her in the hall. On one occasion, three boys picked her up and tossed her in a trashcan on the street while their girlfriends laughed. Today, Gaga has the profile to prevent future stories like her own through the youth empowerment and anti-bullying organization she started called the “Born This Way Foundation.”
#2: Jennifer Lawrence
She may be loved as a normal, grounded person in a world of super-rich mega stars, but Jennifer Lawrence’s schoolyard days were nowhere near as pleasant. Not only was JLaw not invited to middle school birthday parties, but on one occasion, a girl gave her invitations to hand out for a party she wasn’t invited to. Of course, she didn’t do it, but instead spat on the invites and threw them in the trash. Lawrence’s elementary school days weren’t much better, and saw her change schools multiple times due to her being picked on by her peers. Today, Lawrence lives by a simple motto: “Don’t worry about the bitches.” Before we reveal our top pick, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions. - Howard Stern - Miley Cyrus - Kate Winslet - Ryan Gosling - Sandra Bullock
#1: Justin Timberlake
Life has turned out pretty well for this former member of NSYNC, but Justin Timberlake’s earliest taste of fame was also the source of his difficult school life. Upon returning to school in Tennessee from his work with Disney in Orlando, his classmates would tease him for not liking the same things they did. Looking back now, Timberlake sees that those differences are the very thing that make him what he is today, creating his success in music, acting and more or less anything he puts his mind to. Timberlake’s experiences contain a message for us all: have faith in your talents and stay true to yourself; eventually it’ll all work out. Do you agree with our list? Which story from a celebrity’s past has been a source of inspiration for you? For more celebrity top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
