Rebecca Black Pulled From School Due To Bullying
It's hardly shocking
news that some on the Internet hate Rebecca Black. With her "Friday" video
getting well over a hundred million hits on YouTube, it's no surprise she has a
few in-person haters, too. Unfortunately, among them are some of Black's
schoolmates. Their taunting has finally resulted in Black being pulled from
school.
Black's mother has decided to home school the 14-year-old from now on, a new decision which also allows more time to focus on her daughter's career. But the teen seems zen about her alarming circumstances. The online anti-Rebecca comments became so violent at one point the FBI became involved when Black started receiving death threats. But now that the bullying has branched off the internet and into her real life, Black has been forced to act.
In an interview set to air tonight, Wednesday, on ABC, Black opens up about the real-life, non-Internet-based criticism she receives. "When I walk by, they'll start singing 'Friday' in a really nasally voice," she tells ABC. "Or, you know, they'll be like, 'Oh hey, Rebecca, guess what day it is?'"
If anything, Black is a poster child for how to handle sudden online fame and scrutiny. The teen has a remarkably thick skin. Perhaps she is more fit for fame than anyone is willing to admit.
"I've had a lot of experience with not being liked and all that," she tells ABC. "I think if I hadn't had to deal with that in the past, then I totally would have handled this differently and I would have gone down in burning flames. But I've learned that you just can't let it get to you."
Now, she says, fans surround her wherever she goes, and she travels with her own entourage of a publicist, manager, stylist, and, yes, bodyguard. Not letting the spotlight dim on her just yet, her "My Moment" follow-up video has reached more than 22 million views in the past three weeks (YouTube even gave her a "Rebecca" account name). She recently performed "Friday" onstage at Katy Perry's concert (and appeared in Katy's "Last Friday Night" video), and she counts Lady Gaga as a fan. While Black has only made enough money to cover her future college tuition--and she's certainly spending more than that on videos and career nurturers right now--she's one of the few online sensations who could successfully harness the unending power of haters to her own advantage.
Rebecca Black's interview airs tonight on the "Primetime Nightline: Celebrity Secrets" special "Underage and Famous" at 10/9c on ABC.
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