Celebrities weigh in on teenage bullying

By Staff Writer

Pop icon Madonna recently appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss bullying.

According to USA Today, Madonna said she has been disturbed and saddened by the recent number of teen suicides as a result of bullying. She also challenged the viewing audience to take part in an experiment in which everyone goes through the day without gossiping about someone else.

The musician admitted that she was lonely as a teenager because she did not fit into any specific social group in school. Madonna said that her ballet teacher became her mentor and introduced her to other artists and unique individuals, which made her feel like it was OK to be different.

In an interview with MTV, movie star Jim Carrey said that he felt like an outsider growing up, as well. The comedian said that teenagers would be wise to treat their peers with respect, no matter what their sexual orientation, creed or race. Carrey added that prejudice is a poor reflection on the bully's identity and self-confidence, rather than the victim's.