After Suicide of Tyler Clementi, Ellen DeGeneres Speaks Out Against Bullying

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 1st 2010 08:02AM

Ellen DeGeneres was so devastated by the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, an 18-year old Rutgers freshman who wound up being outed during a ruthless Internet prank, that she took a moment to speak about against the growing crisis of bullying in this country.

"He was outed as being gay on the Internet and he killed himself. Something must be done," says DeGeneres. "This needs to be a wakeup call to everyone that teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country and the death rate is climbing."

Ellen also mentions other teens lost -- Seth Walsh, Asher Brown and Billy Lucas.

"One life lost in this senseless way is tragic. Four lives lost is a crisis," she says

"My heart is breaking for their families, for their friends and for our society that continues to let this happen ... We can't let intolerance and ignorance take another kid's life."

Ellen continues: "I want anyone out there who feels different and alone to know that I know how you feel. There is help out there. You can find support in your community. If you need someone to talk to or if you want to get involved, here are some organizations doing great work." Her Website lists the resources as well.

Rutgers freshmen students Dharun Ravi, 18, of Plainsboro, N.J., and Molly Wei, 18, of Princeton, N.J., have been charged with two counts each of invasion of privacy for using a camera to view and transmit a live image of Clementi on Sept. 19. Clementi, a resident of Ridgewood, N.J., was a freshman at the university and Ravi's roommate.

his undated photo from Facebook shows Tyler Clementi.

Ravi has also been charged with two additional counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly attempting to use the camera to view and transmit another encounter involving Clementi (on the left in his Facebook photo) on Sept. 21.

Rutgers police said their probe began after they learned that a camera had been placed in a student's dorm room without his permission.

Clementi is believed to have jumped off the George Washington Bridge on Thursday. His wallet was found on the bridge and his car was located nearby.

Tags: ellen degeneres

Comments

(53)

Friday 01 October

By vcrozas

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There will always be bullies, mean spirited aholes who like to make fun of other people for any reason and for their own personal amusement and to further their own self "impotence" by making fun of anothers "perceived" flaws. When such people receive adequate consequences monetarily or physically they may be prompted to develope or acknowledge a concentious...though ya know some people never do. What should be done with people who do not have a concentious??? IMO they are dangerous isolate them by any means necessary.

By N2

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I AM A STRAIGHT MALE AND CAN SAY THAT WHAT THOSE TWO MORONS DID TO THAT KID WAS WAY OUT OF BOUNDS. I'M SURE THEY DIDNT WANT HIM DEAD BUT THE "PRANK" WAS SO HORRIBLE THEY NEED TO BE SEVERLY PUNISHED. EVEN IF THE KID DIDNT KILL HIMSELF THEY WOULD HAVE RUINED HIM AND CAUSED HIM GREAT PAIN, NEEDLESSLY.
ELLEN IS GAY AND IS GREAT, AND SHE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THIS TERRIBLE INCIDENT. IT WAS A DISGRACEFULL THINK TO DO.
GOD BLESS THE SOLE OF THAT POOR KID AND HIS FAMILY.

By Jay

@Slash - Who would want to be like Slash? Boring cretin, rock dumb and hateful to top off the meal. Slash was likely bullied and now tries to project a toughened persona. But he probably just needs a good hug.

By Rod

I hope you realize Mr. Clementi DID want to keep it behind closed doors, and that it was his roommate and his friend who broadcast it for the world to see?

By MANDI

AMEN TO THAT TWICE

By heather

hey genius, she means we as a society, need to stop the bullying the leads these kids to feel they have no where to turn and they kill themselves. If these kids who are bullying are not dealt with severly, and a example is not set that we will not tolerate this any longer it will never end. And that goes for bullying against , race, whether or not you are gay, where u live, your financial status in life, kids bully for all kinds of reasons, it all needs to end.

By Robert

You're a worthless wimp!!!! Kids have ALWAYS gotten bullied, but NEVER killed themselves over it! What does that tell you liberal???? And this guy was no kid, he was 18!!!

By Lauren

I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE ANYMORE......NO REGARD FOR ANYTHING!!!!!! WE SEEM TO BE NO BETTER THAN TERRORISTS!!!!!!!!

By katrina p

Dear Slash: Please allow me to push you.

By MAGOOS

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One day the bigots and those who use them for political gain will recognise the value gay people have as good and worthwhile members of humanity. Until that time, bigotry is denying humanity much gain. Bullies? Cowards who shudder when any crisis befalls them and fear all that is good in those they bully.

By Olivia

You know, the fact that you don't see a problem means you are part of the problem and are most likely a bully trying to justify his behavior. You are hopefully going to grow up one day and you might have kids of your own (if you can find someone who will look past your faults) and then maybe you will realize what a jerk you were as a kid.

By Laura

Well jack a@@, you read the article so obviously you do.

By Patti

It is all well and good for Ellen to to say 'hey' call someone if you're being bullied...it was too late for this child(yes..child) 18 years old is young..by looking at his photo I could tell he was such a sensitive soul. My heart is broken for he and his family.
I hope the two who streamed this throughout the college gets a whole lot more time than 5 years and I think they think they did no wrong and will never have remorse for this sickening action.

By marlene shackelton

Thanks Ellen for speaking out ! These stories are so sad. We
have to accept people for who they are. While all the stories are not about sexual orientation, many are. Whatever the reason
schools need to be held accountable., and the perpetrators punished. Who holds the schools accountable ? As far as sexual orientation, ALOT of families have gay relatives. I do and love him very much as the rest of our family. this world has enough problems, don't create more, that are not needed. " Love thy neighbor as thyself !"

By olivia

Now talk about intolerance! Sad that you are probably raising your children with that mentality. One world, man. We all share it, we all want to be happy. Who could hate love? in whatever form? if someone is fortunate enough to find someone that makes them truly happy, who are you to say ''i don't want to see you, hide yourselves, be ashamed of who you are'' which i know is not what you said exactly but i am just paraphrasing. Don't you see what hate does to the world? Hate, ignorance and intolerance? Or are you eyes closed to everything? Makes me worried, if theres one like you, theres probably millions.

By Bobbie

Because of bullying...or did you not get that. It's not being gay that is killing them but the bullying that is making their lives unbearable.
By the way, bullying is also what caused Columbine. Bullying knows no race, creed, color or sexual orientation...it kills people every year and no matter how many times this is brought to the front of the burner, it continues. They made a big deal about it after Columbine and neither of those kids was gay, black or poor...yet they felt bullied enough to get revenge.
I'm just saying...

By Terri

I think this is so sad and Ellen is right people are too judgemental before they even get to know who you are. This should not be happening in our county. We all have enough on our plates to have to go through this insanity of being bullied. I feel for these teens.

By mmab

Why didn't Ms. Degeneris speak out against bullying when it involved young people who are not homosexuals? Please don't give her any credit for caring about bullying. She cares about making this a "hate crime" for her pro-homosexual agenda, not about the young people who suffer this kind of torment. Nary a peep until it happend to someone of her own persuasion. Whatever.

By Elizabeth

Right now my 13 yr. ols son is being bullied. At the beginning of this school year, he was to ride the bus to school as he did for the prior years. Entering 8th grade this year, he would be at 'the top of the food chain' at his middle school. My son and two of his friends were relentlessly bullied on the bus. Te taunting and physical threats were so bad that my son and his friends decided not to ride the bus. I had no Idea. My son rode his bike to and from school daily. It's a long way and I couldn't understand why he wanted to bike to school in the blistering heat and sudden rainstorms of South Florida. I found out about the bullying when we argued about riding the bus when it's too hot or raining. When I told him I would take care of this he got even more upset. He said it would only get worse! The parents of my son's friend went to the school TWICE!! and nothing was done. These bullies even went to their house and tried to call the boy outside to fight. The older brother was there to squash the situation. These bullies live in the neighborhood. Since the school did nothing- WHAT HAPPENED TO ZERO TOLERANCE? We are going to the police. I would like to know how to get these bullies expelled and their parents have to be held accountable for their children!

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YOU should be arrested! For child abuse! I feel bad for your son, you have turned him into a whiny little wimp! I weep for the future of our country when cry babies like your son grow up and have to make tough choices in life.

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