Taylor Swift Writes Supportive Message to Lakeville Teen on Instagram

Taylor Swift at the Teen Choice Awards 2014. / Photo by Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

This week’s “celebs do good” moment comes from singer/actress/sweetheart Taylor Swift, who sent a touching Instagram message to a Lakeville teen who felt bullied by her peers.

In a very “I’m one of you” way, Swift begins her message, “Hannahhhhh” with five hs, to show that she’s a friend. The 24-year-old singer tells 14-year-old Hannah Webster that she knows what it’s like to be bullied, and “don’t let them change you or stop you from singing or dancing around to your favorite song.” In other words: shake it off, as her new song suggests.

“All my friends were really leaving me and saying that they hated me,” Webster told ABC News. She also says her favorite part of the message is when Swift references a special connection between them: “Every time someone picks on me, I’ll think of you in the hopes that every time someone picks on you, you’ll think of me.”

Here’s the full message Swift left for Webster:

Hannahhhhh…

Reading this made me so sad because I love seeing you in your videos and photos being so happy and wide eyed, like the world isn’t as harsh and unfair as it actually is. I hate thinking about your pretty face covered in tears, but I know why you’re crying because I’ve been in your place. This isn’t a high school thing or an age thing. It’s a people thing. A life thing. It doesn’t stop. It doesn’t end or change.

People cut other people down for entertainment, amusement, out of jealousy, because of something broken inside them. Or for no reason at all. It’s just what they do, and you’re a target because you live your life loudly and boldly. You’re bright and joyful and so many people are cynical. They won’t understand you and they won’t understand me.

But the only way they win is if your tears turn to stone and make you bitter like them. It’s okay to ask why. It’s okay to wonder how you could try so hard and still get stomped all over. Just don’t let them change you or stop you from singing or dancing around to your favorite song.

You’re going into high school this week and this is your chance to push the reset button on how much value you give the opinion of these kids, most of whom have NO idea who they are. I’m so proud of you and protective of you because you DO. If they don’t like you for being yourself, be yourself even more.

Every time someone picks on me, I’ll think of you in the hopes that every time someone picks on you, you’ll think of me… and how we have this thread that connects us. Let them keep living in the darkness and we’ll keep walking in the sunlight.

Forever on your side, Taylor