Celebrities Protest On Innocent Black Deaths | Marion Bartoli Stands Against Bullies | 20 Years Since “Girl Power”! – Legends Report
By Jatinder Singh, Associate Partner, Lighthouse International
A number of celebrities including Katy Perry, Will.I.Am and Olivia Wilde have taken to social media to protest about the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Mr. Sterling and Mr. Castile were two black African-Americans shot dead in recent days by police in the U.S. In both cases it appears that the policeman involved were not under any imminent threat. Here are a section of comments made:
You can’t just go on with your day, you must watch this & we must face this continual outrageousness #ALTONSTERLING https://t.co/NqW3aVSZ1j
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 6, 2016
If your black & in the hood the cops are terrifying #differentTERRORISM
Pray4 #AltonSterling & #PhilandoCastile fam pic.twitter.com/UaBsdAlGdt— i.am+ (@iamwill) July 7, 2016
He had a right to sell CDs, and a right to due process, but he he was shot for being a black man. Don’t rationalize murder. #AltonSterling
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 6, 2016
These comments highlight the injustices that still exist in the world, especially in what is meant to be one of the most advanced countries! It is good that legends such as these who have millions of followers can generate attention so that these injustices are seen by more and more people. Nevertheless it is only when concerted action is taken by many that change will actually occur. Talk is not enough. To read more click here…
Marion Bartoli Speaks Out Against Internet Bullies
By Asif Valiji, Mentorship Coach, Lighthouse International
After contracting a mystery virus causing severe symptoms and limiting her eating, drinking and lifestyle habits, former Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli has lost over 5 stone in weight since winning the tournament back in 2013.
As a result, she has been the target of online abuse through Twitter, with bullies suggesting she has an eating disorder. Ms. Bartoli has recently commented on how the virus has been “absolutely horrendous” and that she would not wish it on anyone. In an interview with ITV’s This Morning program on Thursday, she said:
“I wanted to come here and explain to them. Maybe there are other people around the world suffering the same, and maybe we can all join and be supportive.”
The courage Ms. Bartoli is showing here is truly heartfelt and warming. It’s one thing to stand up to a bully, it’s something else to do it in on broadcast television and call for support for people around the world suffering from the same challenge, who more than anything, are in need of support and understanding. As she said herself:
“…my passion and love for life is keeping me going.”
Read more in the Guardian here…
By Kris Deichler, Associate Partner & Mentorship Coach, Lighthouse International
Today is the 20th anniversary of the release of the Spice Girls’ debut single ‘Wannabe’. The song, released in 1996, proved to be a massive global hit, reaching No.1 in 31 countries within weeks of its release. What also came with the group’s meteoric rise was a new wave of positive feminine empowerment for girls and women everywhere, through their message of ‘girl power’. They were fresh, different and between them their personalities represented a broad spectrum of people. Guardian columnist Caroline Sullivan described their break onto the music scene as having a very different feel to what was known at the time:
“The tried and tested way of breaking a band was to get excited about the music first, but with the Spice Girls, you got excited about them as people first.”
The fact the majority of band’s fans at the time were young girls and pre-teens, meant their message and influence was reaching a generation of women at a very young age. They changed perspectives on what was possible for women and taught many that they didn’t have to conform to previous social norms. Fans today range from singer Adele, to actress Emma Stone. Love them or hate them, their influence and impact has been positive for many and shows what a difference legends can make through a positive example. Read more in the Guardian by clicking here…
As a bit of a spicy bonus, watch this funny interview that shows Emma Stone’s love for the girls below: