There might not be a better person to speak out against bullying than openly gay singer Adam Lambert.
On Friday, the season eight American Idol runner-up took to his Twitter account and said bullying victims should feel empowered and focus “on the positive.” Lambert’s spiel lasted 20 tweets, with the singer arguing that to help solve the problem of bullying, kids must be instilled with confidence and self-esteem.
“it’s a case by case thing. If someone’s being so viciously bullied that its affecting their mental health – yes- huge problem we must stop,” tweeted Lambert. “But because its become such a trendy way to identify certain kinds of typical teenage angst, I hope it’s not making it worse.“
Lambert compared the problems bullying victims face to the same plights celebrities encounter with the tabloids, press, and fans. With the rise of constant sharing on social networking leading to more exposure of kids’ lives, they now face some of the same issues.
“Yet w/ social networking taking over, isnt society emulating celebrity culture by posting pics and updates of themselves to a broad audience,” asked Lambert. “So with fame having become the new American Dream, are we punishing those who have ‘made it’ with our own inferiority complexities? Envy?”
Lambert said he was just creating a “Twitter forum” and wasn’t taking sides in any current celebrity beefs (perhaps the fight between rapper Azealia Banks and gossip hound Perez Hilton). He concluded that his tweets, which drew much support from fans and even Evan Rachel Wood, were pointing that society should focus on the victims and not on glorifying the bullies.
“The reason I brought up how society tends to view celebrity culture was to suggest the sometimes hypocritical aspect to victim/bullying,” tweeted Lambert. “Sometimes it seems that folks adopt an “eye for an eye” attitude instead of just rising above it. Doesn’t this just become a vicious cycle?”
“im not saying there shouldn’t be consequences for bullies. I’m saying that HELPING folks cope and ignore is ALSO important & more proactive,” explained Lambert.
His rant ended with a group hug saying anyone is welcome into his Glamily: “Please be welcoming and kind. Quit cyber fighting.”
Photo via glambert4eva97/Hashgram
