Rebecca Black recounts how her 2011 song “Friday” went viral when she was 13, bringing sudden fame alongside an overwhelming wave of online ridicule that left her fearing she wouldn’t survive it. The harassment spilled into her real life, leading to severe bullying at school, threats from strangers, and her decision to leave school for homeschooling, despite the career opportunities the video created. She says she shut down because she had no tools to cope, but now uses her experience to speak out against cyberbullying and encourage others not to suffer in silence. Black notes the hate has lessened over time and continues her music career, including the release of her EP RE/BL.