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.
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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.
Talking in an interview on ABC in the US, 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" on stage 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.
Watch Katy Perry's 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)' starring Rebecca Black
Tiffany Lee writes for Yahoo! Music
63 Comments
shes mediocre at best...if youre gonna put yourself out there as a 'singer' youve got to accept people hating it...and lets face it..its easy to hate....its not bullying...what a crock of @#$%...theyre commenting directly on the song and they have the right to tell her it sucks...every day if they want...theyre not calling her fat pig or beating her up because they dont like her, its criticism....and her and mommy cant hack it
ReplyThe online comments with the death threats were pretty bad and definitely are bullying. The comments from the other students at her school aren't though. To resort to home schooling for such insignificant interactions seems a bit extreme. I'm guessing it's more to do with having a mother pushing her to be famous than for her protection from bullies.
ReplyPeople don't necessarily watch other people for their superior talent. There is a herd mentality or the pleasure of watching someone else make a fool of themselves. Having said that, who is she and ...is she good?
Replywell the bullies are the LOSERS, the last laugh is on them go for it girl do not worry about hte LOSERS you have left behind. ALso so the bullies must have a URL so why is it hard to chase these LOSSERS thought their URLS????????and then name and shame them see how they like it when the tables are turned on them . see how they like that .
Replyi be the first to admit to know what it is like for Rebecca Black. because i was bullied a whole heap during school and it isn't a nice thing. it makes you feel really bad to the point you have no self esteem and you have to change schools. it wasn't fun i was suspended 3 times because of it because the cowards ganged up on me and a lot of trouble.
Replythats f*cked up. I have never heard of her before today but why the hell cant she be sucessful without being bullied?! our schools and society need to change!
Replyi hate the song, i dont think people should have to listen to her or bieber or whatever but for her to be bullied out of school is just tragic. how sad must some people's lives be that they spend their time attacking and threatening some 14 year old child.
ReplyHaha, my first reaction when I read the headline was that she was being discriminated against for being Black.
ReplyNearly every kid gets bullied at one stage or another. Her case is no different.
ReplyShes probably 10 thousand times richer then them now though she could like afford body guards to deal with them if she wanted they should be careful
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