ADVERTISEMENT

Back to Bullied Celebrities: Victims-Turned-Advocates Use Their Fame to Fight Back

Clay Aiken

Getty Images

"American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken was bullied through elementary school and junior high for his love of music. Clay says he was picked on for being the only male in his entire school in choir. He even contemplated quitting singing all together in a bid to stop the bullies.

Well it's a good thing he didn't let the haters silence his voice. Since his "Idol" success, Aiken has joined GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) in backing the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act. “I never had someone who told me that it was okay to be different … that it was okay to be me," Clay said in 2010. "What I did hear was that it would get better once I was out of high school … that things would get better. But from where I sat, I could not possibly believe that to be true. We need federal leadership from Congress to encourage all states and districts and each and every school to create safe learning environments where all students can learn and succeed."

ADVERTISEMENT


Follow AOL Music on Tumblr

CATEGORIES



Also on AOL

Your Settings

{email}

Subscriptions

Weekly Newsletter

AOL Music Blog news in your mailbox. Top Articles, reviews, photos & more.

Realtime alerts

Daily alerts


Update
Cancel