Reality TV celebs talk bullying at Scotts Hill High School

REAGAN, Tenn. — Reality television celebrities visited Scotts Hill High School on Friday to talk about bullying.

X-Factor season one top-six finalist Drew Ryniewicz, season 10 American Idol top-eight boys finalist Robbie Rosen, and The Voice season six contestant Branden Mendoza performed for students and spoke out against bullying.

“The worst thing you can think of, I have been called that by strangers,” Ryniewicz said.

Ryniewicz said people targeted her online. “Being on national television, I was cyber bullied huge, on a big scale, so I know what high school students are going through,” she said.

The artists shared their personal experiences with bullying. They even touched on tough subjects like suicide.

“Anytime that we can bring awareness to our children about bullying and about harassment — I think that education is the key to stop this,” Scotts Hill High School Principal Beverly Ivy said.

Students sang along. They took in the music and the message. “I can’t think of a better way than through artistic and creative expression to talk about bullying and to combat it,” Molly Davis, a senior, said.

Artists encouraged students to chase their dreams. “We want the students to see that we were bullied too and that we’re very successful,” Ryniewicz said.

The school said they hope the message encourages victims to come forward and bullies to rethink their actions.

The group travels across the country with their anti-bullying message. Here in Tennessee, they also performed for students in Lexington, Decaturville and Linden.