Top 20 Celebrities Who Were Bullied at School

Bullying shows up in different ways in every school. Some kids are targeted for how they look or dress. Others are singled out for the things they love or the dreams they chase. Many famous people have spoken about these experiences and how they shaped their early years. Their stories are not about perfection. They are about what they lived through and what they did next.

The accounts below come from interviews, speeches, books, and public projects these celebrities have shared over the years. You will see details about where they went to school, what they faced in classrooms and hallways, and the concrete steps they later took to support students who feel the same pressure today. Each entry focuses on what happened and what they did with those hard lessons.

Lady Gaga

Stefani Germanotta attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City and has described being mocked for her appearance and for playing piano at lunch. She has spoken about classmates who targeted her and incidents that made school feel unsafe. Those experiences pushed her to look for community in music programs and performance spaces where she could practice and feel seen.

In 2012 she launched the Born This Way Foundation with her mother Cynthia Germanotta to support youth mental health and kinder school climates. The foundation partners with researchers and school programs to improve peer support and to help students access resources. It also trains young people to lead kindness initiatives in their own classrooms.

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran has talked about being teased for red hair and glasses and about dealing with a childhood stutter. He said he practiced speaking rhythm through rap and open mic nights after school. He also credits school music rooms with giving him places to write and perform.

As an adult he has supported groups that help young people with speech differences and confidence building. He has shared advice at events for students who stutter and has donated instruments to school programs. He often points to consistent practice and creative outlets as tools that helped him work through bullying.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift started bringing demo CDs to meetings in Nashville while still in school and has said classmates sometimes singled her out for wanting a music career. She performed at talent shows and wrote songs after homework to keep improving. Her parents moved to support her training which meant new schools and new social circles.

She has funded music education programs and donated to school arts departments in several districts. She has also visited schools to talk about persistence and kindness in peer groups. Her public remarks often connect classroom experiences with the way students can support each other.

Chris Rock

Chris Rock has described being bussed to a mostly white school in Brooklyn where he experienced harassment and physical bullying. He later earned a GED after leaving high school. His stand up and writing frequently refer to that period and to the way daily incidents added up.

He created the series ‘Everybody Hates Chris’ which uses his middle school years to show what repeated taunts and fights felt like. He has also spoken about therapy and how unpacking those memories helped him. The show remains a classroom discussion tool for teachers who address bullying and bystander behavior.

Eminem

Marshall Mathers has detailed being attacked by older students in Michigan and one incident that led to a head injury. He missed classes during recovery and later wrote about specific classmates and hallways in his songs. His lyrics describe how repeated targeting affected his attendance and motivation.

He has donated to Detroit school programs and youth organizations through the Marshall Mathers Foundation. He also uses school settings in his storytelling to open conversations about safety and support for kids who do not feel protected. Those efforts have helped local programs expand tutoring and counseling.

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham has spoken about being picked on in school for her love of dance and for acne and braces. She has described eating lunch alone and asking teachers for permission to spend breaks in classrooms to avoid taunts. Performing arts training after school gave her consistent goals and mentors.

She has shared letters to her younger self that discuss bullying and confidence and she supports youth charities connected to arts education. She often highlights how structured activities help students build friendships. Her interviews encourage parents and schools to look for safe spaces where kids can practice and belong.

Kate Middleton

Catherine Middleton attended Downe House for a short time and has been reported to have struggled with peer dynamics there. She transferred to Marlborough College where she found a better fit through sports and house life. Rowing and team games helped her connect with classmates.

Through the Royal Foundation she supports programs like Heads Together and Place2Be that work inside schools on mental health and bullying prevention. She visits classrooms and highlights staff training and early support for pupils. These initiatives help teachers notice problems sooner and guide families to services.

Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe has said that after his early ‘Harry Potter’ fame some older students targeted him with name calling. He attended the City of London School where teachers worked with his filming schedule and classmates. He balanced tutoring with regular classes to keep up.

He has recorded public service messages with groups that support LGBTQ youth and crisis lines and he speaks about how small comments can build into serious distress. He urges students to seek help through school counselors and trusted adults. He also talks about supportive parents and teachers who made a difference.

Emma Watson

Emma Watson has mentioned that attention from ‘Harry Potter’ made school life complicated and sometimes led to teasing. She studied at Headington School in Oxford and balanced coursework with set tutoring. She later pursued university studies while continuing her career.

She works with programs that address online harassment and gender based bullying. Her United Nations work on HeForShe includes school outreach that asks boys and girls to challenge harmful behavior. She also supports book clubs and campus groups that give students tools to respond.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez has said she was teased in middle school for acting on ‘Barney and Friends’ and for pursuing auditions. She moved to homeschooling when filming schedules made regular attendance hard. Teachers helped her complete tests while she traveled.

She became a UNICEF ambassador as a teenager and has supported education and community health projects that include anti bullying components. She has spoken to students about asking for help and about taking breaks from social media. Her tours often include local school visits and youth center stops.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus wrote about being shoved and mocked by classmates in her book Miles to Go. She described crying in bathrooms and leaning on a small group of friends. During the early seasons of ‘Hannah Montana’ she continued core subjects through on set lessons.

She has backed school campaigns that ask students to sign pledges to stop mean gossip. She has visited classrooms to talk about rumors and how to report problems to staff. Her outreach includes videos that walk students through steps to support a classmate who is being targeted.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale has said he was bullied after appearing in ‘Empire of the Sun’ as a child actor. He moved schools and dealt with students who reacted to his early success. Drama classes and fencing offered spaces where he could focus on craft and fitness.

He has discussed the pressure young performers face and how schools can help them keep normal routines. He supports children’s charities that provide mentoring and activity funding. He emphasizes steady schedules and trusted adults as key pieces for students who split time between school and work.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder has shared that she was attacked in junior high for wearing thrift store clothes and for her short haircut. She wrote about being punched and needing stitches. She later returned to school after filming and dealt with classmates who recognized her from ‘Beetlejuice’.

She has used interviews to urge schools to take reports seriously and to support kids who feel different. Her work in films like ‘Heathers’ sparked classroom talks about popularity and cruelty. Teachers often use scenes from that film to lead discussions on bystanders and peer pressure.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has said classmates started a petition encouraging them to harm themselves which led to homeschooling. They have spoken about cyberbullying during early recording and television work. Counselors and tutors helped them finish assignments while touring.

They have partnered with PACER National Bullying Prevention Center and filmed messages for students on how to seek help. They have also trained with mental health advocates to add hotline numbers and resources to shows. Their campaigns urge schools to create clear reporting systems that students trust.

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps has described being teased for his ears and for a lisp and for being very tall at a young age. A teacher once told him he would not achieve much which he has mentioned as a memory that stuck. He started swimming to manage energy and to find structure.

He created the Michael Phelps Foundation which brings water safety and confidence programs to clubs and schools. The group’s curricula teach goal setting and emotional skills alongside swim lessons. He also speaks about attention differences and how sports can help students channel focus.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves moved often in childhood and has said he was bullied in more than one school. He found supportive adults in drama teachers and on hockey teams. He left high school without a diploma and later continued education through acting work.

He supports children’s hospitals and education charities and quietly funds arts programs that give teens safe places to train. He speaks about the value of patient mentors and steady practice. His school stories highlight how frequent moves can make students more vulnerable to bullying.

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill has talked about being teased for his weight at Stowe School where classmates used a nickname he did not like. He took up rugby and joined school plays which gave him supportive peer groups and daily training plans. He later focused on fitness for early film roles.

He has used interviews to discuss nutrition and exercise in a healthy way for teens. He also engages with fan charities that raise money for wildlife and youth causes which include school projects. His message to students centers on building routines and finding activities that create community.

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown has said she faced bullying in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States for acting opportunities. She described incidents that made school feel unsafe and later switched to online schooling during early seasons of ‘Stranger Things’. Tutors helped her stay on track during filming.

She became one of the youngest UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors and recorded messages about kindness and online behavior. She supports school programs that address social media harassment and rumor spreading. She also uses brand platforms to fund youth projects that encourage students to look out for one another.

Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne has spoken about struggling with dyslexia and being teased for it in early grades. She moved to homeschooling after repeated incidents and used specific reading programs to improve. She continued to act while completing coursework with tutors.

She has worked with literacy nonprofits that bring reading support to schools. She also participates in campaigns that teach classmates how to support students with learning differences. Her story shows how evidence based reading instruction can change a school experience.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox has said she was isolated by groups of girls in high school and that she ate lunch in the school office to avoid harassment. She focused on drama classes and community theater to meet people who shared her interests. Modeling and acting gave her a path that fit her goals.

She has used interviews to discuss how schools can protect students who feel socially targeted. She highlights the value of arts education and trusted faculty who can offer safe spaces during breaks. Her comments encourage students to report problems and to connect with clubs that welcome them.

Share your thoughts and add other examples of school experiences that should be included in the comments.