Phoebe Prince: Facebook Bullying Behind Teen's Suicide

by NowPublic Staff | January 26, 2010 at 03:28 pm
104057 views | 42 Recommendations | 331 comments

Phoebe Prince, a 15-year-old from South Hadley, Massachusetts, is believed to have committed suicide due to cyber bullying. Friends of Phoebe Prince have reported that the teen, who recently immigrated from Ireland, had been bullied and harassed by classmates. Some of the bullying extended to harassing Phoebe Prince via her Facebook page.



“The real problem now is the texting stuff and the cyber-bullying,’’ said South Hadley School Superintendent Gus A. Sayer. “Some kids can be very mean towards one another using that medium.’’ 


The bullying didn't end after the death of Phoebe Prince. Several nasty messages were posted on a Phoebe Prince Facebook Memorial page. While police are still investigating, it is believed that Prince may have been bullied over dating issues.

A makeshift memorial for Phoebe Prince took place over the weekend.

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0
diane Lord

naomi wood  I don't know u but i feel for u. She was a beautiful girl and they were very jealous of her. I like what u wrote and had to comment on it. Yes they are bastards. May God Bless u and Phoebe      

0
bulliedbrina

Did any students ever stand up for her while she was alive?

0
Mother from Texas

I would like to know why any of Phoebe's friends didn't come to her rescue during times she was bullied?  To me, sitting by and allowing such awful things to happen to another individual, is almost as bad as the actual bullying.  Maybe if those "mean girls" knew that there was a group of friends standing behind Phoebe as a unified front, they would have stopped bullying her? 

0
RHONDA(COLS.OHIO-WESTSIDE)

                       NAOMI,IM SO SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR FRIEND. THIS STORY HAS OUTRAGED ME AND I ALSO FEEL HURT FOR PHOEBE AND HER FAMILY. THOSE BULLIES NEED TO GET THE SAME TREATMENT THEY GAVE PHOEBE. I ALWAYS SAID 2WRONGS DONT MAKE A RIGHT,BUT SINCE IVE HEARD OF PHOEBES SITUATION,IM HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS. I WISH FOR ONE DAY THAT PHOEBE WAS LOCATED IN COLUMBUS OHIO ON THE WESTSIDE. I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD MY KIDS TO NOT BULLY PEOPLE AND STAND UP FOR THE ONES WHO ARE BEING BULLIED,MY DAUGHTER DID JUST THAT A YEAR AGO FOR A GIRL SHE BARELY KNEW AND THE BULLIES TURNED THEIR FOCUS ON HER AND JUST LIKE IN PHOEBES CASE NO ONE AT THE SCHOOL WOULD HELP MY DAUGHTER HER NAME IS BRITTANY AND IM JUST SO PROUD OF HER. WE WENT THROUGH ALOT BUT THANKFULLY MY DAUGHTER WAS STRONG WILLED AND NEVER GAVE UP. MAYBE WHAT IVE TAUGHT HER IS WRONG,WHO KNOWS? BUT SHE JUST MAY HAVE SAVED HER SCHOOL MATES LIFE FOR TAKING A STAND. IVE TRIED TO FOLLOW PHOEBES STORY AND I JUST KNOW IN MY HEART MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE TOOK A STAND TO ALL THEM GIRLS,AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES WERE ALL ABOUT. PHOEBE IS A VERY PRETTY GIRL AND JUST CHERISH THE FEW WEEKS THAT YOU DID HAVE WITH HER,THEY CANT TAKE YOUR MEMORIES AWAY. TAKE CARE AND JUST KNOW PEOPLE IN BUCKEYE COUNTRY DOES NOT APPROVE OF THIS AT ALL,AND IM NOT SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE JUST MYSELF AND BRITTANY. R.I.P. PHOEBE PRINCE, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE IN OUR HEARTS. RHONDA,BRITTANY COLUMBUS,OHIO-WESTSIDE.

3
Yawnnnn

This story should read "somewhat cute little white girl kills herself, newsworthy because we get to quote lindsay lohans "mean girls" movie in every title" =D   Honestly I don't give a damn, she's 15 not 5 - bullying happens everywhere not just in her little MA town, I am from Europe aswell and have seen girls doing way worse than sending messages on some website that you DON'T HAVE TO TO BE ON, and can BLOCK, REPORT AND HAVE BANNED. Not to mention the fact that you can block text aswell.   She seems like a dense one, better she remove herself from the gene pool sooner than later. People get raped and keep living, people get attacked, robbed, beat up every day of their life and keep living, people get some retarded high school sluts picking on them and she wants to kill herself over it? lol please. I would be ashamed to have ever raised a child so weak, she would have never been able to handle life after high school and then college, she wouldn't last in a job if this is her reaction to kid bullies, just wait until all you kids meet some real bullies.

4
in va

YawnnnnYou are a wicked retahd and idiot.  Do everyone a favor and get sterilized asap.

4
Karma4Yawnnnn

Yawnnn, Here's for all the "weak" girls you probably bullied because that is what gives meaning to your pathetic, empty, mind-numbingly vacuous life. Whatever crap that you spew from the ordure-addled space between your ears poisons our social environment like the most noxious detritus secreted by living and non-living matter, I hope Karma arrives soon in the form of a huge reverse vacuum that sucks up your unwanted, despised spill and hurls it right back at ya like a smelly nauseating spit in the face.

12
mikelvlvl

Yawnn,  you are an animal and a poor excuse for a human being.  The only one who needs to leave the gene pool is you.  I wish we could get Phoebe's life back in exchange for yours.  Wait until something happens to someone close to you someday.  You make me sick.  There is a special place in hell waiting for you.  It's sad.  You don't realize how naive and ignorant you are.  What a waste you are. 

0
Michael Joseph Nadolski

I don't even kno how I came across that 1 guys yawnn post. But I don't think I could've responded any better than what u did--thank you. I seem to be surprised on how dumb I see that people can actually get in this cruel world. Feel sry for that little girl. Too bad those kids are prolly gunna just see the smack on the wrists that'll be punishment.

4
enders

Yawnnnn you are a sick twisted dirt bag of the highest order.  What you are saying is disgusting and absolutely beyond measure inhumane.  

2
Perhaps the bullies should be bullied...

Well, I guess we know who was a bully in high school, or perhaps still is. Perhaps the world would be a more pleasant place if we removed all the bullies from the gene pool so they don't reproduce. Would you like to start? Thanks =)

6
Cakins

What is wrong with you? Have you any idea what it is like for a teenager to be dropped in a new environment, with vicious teenagers, and not a soul in the world to talk to? Why should a teenager not visit his or her own website to chat with friends IN HER HOME COUNTRY because a bunch of little snobs have nothing better to do? I'm currently doing a thesis paper for my master's program on this specific incident because people don't realize the emotional trauma incurred. You may have seen girls do worse, but where are those peons now? Are they in their bathroom cutting themselves? Are they hanging themselves in a closet? Taking a gun to school? At 15, your world seems to be over when you're at the bottom of the "cool" totum pole and all alone. I pray to god you don't have kids who are picked on, they'll defintely off themselves due to your lack of empathy.

5
your name

REALLY?! wow clearly you are uneducated and immature. This poor girl was tormented and you sit there on your high horse and have to say things like that. You are probly one of those MEAN GIRLS. I only wish i could take pheobes life back and give yours instead. You need therapy or something if you have these feelings. Maybe your just upset that noone would care if you died but people actually care that this young girl did.

3
Gymbo

Yawnnn,I hope you never have children.  You say you would be "ashamed to have ever raised a kid so weak".  I guarantee you, when you have kids they will have some qualities you will not like.  Will you be ashamed of them, or will you try to support them?  

4
Mary Mary Quite Contrary

Yawn, did you have relatives who were rulers over Auschwitz-Birkenau or Dachau.  Your as heartless as the evil that took place at these camps.

4
Erika Kelly

She's someone's child you jack a$$.  Boy would I love to get my hands on you.

1
M L

I feel sorry for you. Such an opinion on what is a tragic event for the girls family! Remember what goes around comes around and with opinions like yours you can't have a very happy life. I pity you to live such a life...

3
breatheinbreatheout

Yawnnn, or whatever your name is, you disgust me.

1
Dovee

Ur an idiot

1
aira

She was only 15. Many teens are not equipped to handle situations like these. At this age you are still trying to find yourself. These are real bullies that tormented her.

0
Anon666

I'm a bully at chaparral high school in temecula because you touch your self at night



For the horde.

2
Amnda Kirby

Hey Yawnnn your a idiot. She was only in the country for 3 months. They were so rotten, vicious and cruell that she hung herself WITHIN 3 MONTHS! Your comments make my stomach turn. Maybe you need to be bullied. 

0
violated

You are a hard uncaring insensitive ass. It's people like you that make this world hell.

1
BlessAll

It doesn't take a genius to realize this is an ignorant response to a tradgedy from an ignorant individual. True enough, people do go through worse and keep living, but people all respond differently to certain situations. How heartless must one be to even imply that it would be better for a child to kill themselves rather than going through the pain of living. We may have been through something very similiar in our lives, but no matter how closely related to her circumstances, we will  never know the depth of pain she was feeling. What we should be criticizing is the mindset of our nation. We are so quick to blow things like this off every day with the old saying "Kids will be kids", when we should be questioning why something isn't done to stop it before it gets out of hand. Why do we give our children this excuse for thier bad behavior rather than being the responsible parents we should be and teach our children that it is 100% unacceptable to treat another in this way. This was a child of God and she was nothing less than wonderfully made. She was loved, she was valued, she was precious, and beautiful. I can not say the same for you.  I will pray not only for this baby who is gone from us now, but also for you.

0
rielle

Do us a big favor yawnn or whatever the hell your name is---go back to Europe! We don't want you here in our beautiful country. We don't talk this way nor raise our kids to be like you! The kids that did this will hopefully be dealt with in our courts and with any luck will serve with the big guys/girls for a very long time! Do you know real bullies my friend? You act like you may just be one. Here is a beautiful young lady so damn distressed that she took her young life and you are on here spreading your filth. GO HOME NOW!

0
bulliedbrina

Have you ever had to deal with depression? What issues have you faced? Did you know Phoebe? Do you know everything she had to deal with in addition to bullying? When you get an interview with the person who did, come back to comment again. Reserve your judgements until then.

0
Roisin Doyle (Irish Woman)

Hiya Watch your back  Yawnnn!! you have some cheek!! calling phoebe weak!! oh yea like she deserved it!!! to be bullied.  dont think so, I myself teach here in Ireland, I could teach you a thing or two!! manners being one!!! Dont ever disrespect the dead!!! or ill curse the banshee on you!!! Roisin Ireland

0
SickFck

Yawnnnn, does your mom and dad anally rape you with kitchen utensils after you go to bed? Did you witness your brother violently massacre your entire family? Did some 'big mean boy' stand you up on a date and never call back? Sounds to me like you are suffering from 'anti-social personality disorder.' Happens to scumbag pieces of garbage like you after witnessing or experiencing a tragic event, and this is your sick way of 'coping.' May you rot in hell, you ugly excuse for a human being. I hope Phoebe Prince haunts you from the grave and pushes you out in front of oncoming traffic during rush hour while your entire family watches... B ! T C H

4
Yawnnn

See? we all turn into bullies with the right person to provoke us. =) 1. Karma I'm not a girl and bullying girls wouldn't benefit me one bit as far as when I was in high school anyways. Also, LOL @ the rest of your comment. Cause and effect is quite amusing, I do wonder what caused the bullying of Phoebe, something tells me it wasn't just senseless bullying without reason. =)   2. It's funny calling someone a "retard" and being unable to spell the world properly.   3. Assuming I believe in Hell (which I do not) you mean that spot in the ground where we all end up as maggot food? Kay. lol

2
Jake15005

Yawwn, unfortunately there are many people like you; and people are the reason women are becoming more masculine (and guys more feminine) and society is falling apart. Phoebe was obviously a sensitive person; FUCK YOU for saying that girls (at her age) should have to be tough.

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Hugh Askew
First Flagged at 10:06 AM, Jan 28, 2010 by Hugh Askew

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