At the launch event for her new anti-bullying foundation, Lady Gaga didn’t claim to have a panacea to end bullying, but she did tap into her star power to use it for good. Stemming from her chart-topping album Born This Way, the Born This Way Foundation seeks “to foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated.”
The idea behind the foundation came from her own experiences being bullied in high school and from her fans - who have grasped her messages of individualism and self-acceptance, most notably within the LGBT community.
So far the foundation hasn’t presented a plan on how exactly it will work to end bullying, which means there is a lot of footwork to be done. But she’s open to suggestions on the best steps to take. “It could be 50 years,” she said. “If I’m dead, I don’t give a shit. I just want it to happen.”
She also has brainpower on her side. The Born This Way Foundation is working in conjuction with the MacArthur Foundation, the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Her high profile, paired with their credentials, seem like a winning combination for pushing meaningful messages to youth and shedding light on a topic as dark as bullying. And it’s refreshing to see a star taking concepts she’s talked about for so long and turning them into a vehicle to help youth - not just to sell albums.
You can watch an excerpt about Gaga’s experience being bullied which was part of last year's MTV special, “Lady Gaga: Inside on the Outside,” here:
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