Rebecca Black struggled to survive intense bullying

Rebecca Black shut down after receiving death threats following the release of her debut single.
The singer shot to fame at the tender age of 13 in 2011, when her tune Friday went viral on YouTube and other social media sites.
Already bullied by her classmates, her sudden rise to celebrity status saw her bombarded with death threats from trolls online, an experience she has now reflected on.
“The onslaught of negative attention I received was so sudden and so intense that I wasn’t sure I would survive,” Black shared in a heartfelt letter written for NBC News’ Think on Friday (20Oct17). “One minute, I was a normal girl and then, in the next, millions of people (knew) who I was and they were ruthless in hurling the most vile words my way. People were writing things all over the Internet, on social media and they were laughing at me on TV shows and making fun of me in YouTube videos.”
She added: “Although I was hurt to my core by the intense nastiness, I had absolutely no way to deal with that, so I shut down.”
Now aged 20, the singer is now using her painful experiences to help other victims of bullying.
“People still say hateful things about me, but it happens less often these days,” she explained. “Internet bullying is not inevitable, if we allow ourselves to learn a bit more and stand up for others and what’s right.
“Nobody needs to suffer in silence, like I did, for so many years. Talk to someone who can help, whether that’s a friend, a trusted adult or a mental health professional.”
Black released single Heart Full of Scars, as well as the tracklist for her first record, RE / BL, in September.