Cartoon Network continues its vital conversation with kids and families about speaking up against bullying with a special presentation of THE BULLY EFFECT on Sunday, April 28 at 5:30 and 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Produced in partnership with Cartoon Network as part of its award-winning Stop Bullying: Speak Up initiative and presented commercial-free, THE BULLY EFFECT is a half-hour CNN original documentary abridged for family audiences and features additional original content, including a special introduction by Cartoon Network President/COO Stuart Snyder as well as a candid conversation with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who hosts the documentary and is a recognized advocate for bullying prevention. Concurrent with and immediately following both telecasts of THE BULLY EFFECT, author and renowned bullying prevention expert Rosalind Wiseman will host an exclusive, live online chat at StopBullyingSpeakUp.com to answer questions from youth, parents and educators.
Alex Lilbby while bulliedCourtesy of Cartoon Network
THE BULLY EFFECT chronicles the journey of 14-year-old Alex Libby, whose emotional life is both restored and wonderfully activated because someone spoke up in his defense against bullying. In 2011, filmmaker Lee Hirsch embedded himself in schools across America and captured footage so raw and eye-opening, it sounded alarm bells and helped create a tipping point about how critical the issue of bullying has become. Hirsch documented a then 12-year-old Alex, who was confronted with slurs, threats and beatings on the school bus nearly every day. Following supportive intervention from an adult on his behalf, today he has become an anti-bullying rock star with appearances on national television and a visit to the White House.
Alex LIbby with peers todayCourtesy of Cartoon Network
“For three years now through Stop Bullying: Speak Up, Cartoon Network has served to provide valuable resources and materials to help educate and empower kids to speak up whenever bullying occurs,” said Snyder, president and COO for Turner Broadcasting’s Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media division. “Our first documentary, Speak Up, illustrated what kids could do practically to help other kids who’ve experienced bullying. THE BULLY EFFECT takes that message one step further, demonstrating how powerful empathy and understanding can be in helping to turn someone’s life around. I hope this program will encourage sensitive, open dialogue between kids, their parents and teachers and continue to show the impact when one speaks up against bullying.”
During and immediately following the Sunday telecasts, bullying prevention expert Rosalind Wiseman will provide further explanation of key bullying issues for kids and families, answering viewer questions via an online chat at www.StopBullyingSpeakUp.com. To participate, youth and adults will need to either access or create a new user account at CartoonNetwork.com, providing an active email address and the user’s age. There is no need to download any software. Screen names will be anonymous and all comments or questions will be monitored for appropriate content.
