See "Bully," Cry and Act

Bravos for ‘Bully’

Last Updated: 12:12 AM, March 13, 2012
Posted: 12:08 AM, March 13, 2012

There was barely a dry eye at the Crosby Street Hotel screening of “Bully,” Lee Hirsch’s powerful film about bullied teens and parents of kids who have committed suicide. Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa hosted Sunday’s Cinema Society/Bing screening of the Weinstein Co. movie for a group that included Michelle Trachtenberg, André Leon Talley, Prabal Gurung, Paul Haggis, Rachel Roy and David LaChapelle, who left the theater in tears. He told us, “Everyone must see this film. It is hard to watch, but it shows bullying is as intense as ever in schools. Now it doesn’t stop at the school bell — it carries on in social media, online and on text. I dropped out of school because I was bullied by a group who subjected me to unrelenting harassment because I dressed different. It ranged from ‘faggot’ being written on my locker to five guys waiting outside of the classroom. There was nobody to help. I never finished high school — I dropped out at 15 and came to New York, and it saved my life.” He added, “I was in tears watching this film. For each of those kids shown there are thousands more being bullied for not fitting in, for being or looking different, or being gay. People need to see this film to see what our kids endure, and to change this.” “Bully” received an R rating from the MPAA because of six expletives — meaning fewer teens would be able to see it. Harvey Weinstein, along with stars including Ellen DeGeneres, Demi Lovato and Drew Brees, are campaigning to change the rating to PG-13. Weinstein is hosting a panel discussion with the MPAA chair, former Sen. Chris Dodd, on Thursday in DC. He said, “I’m hoping to bring kids from the movie ... with their testimony, anything, including change, is possible, in my belief. We feel it is our duty to continue to ... fight for the PG-13 rating ‘Bully’ deserves. The families who courageously let us into their lives in ‘Bully’ provide just a glimpse into what’s happening to children everywhere.”

David LaChapelle

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