Suicide of Australian Akubra hat ad star ‘Dolly’ sparks cyberbullying campaign
Father invites daughter’s tormentors to her funeral service to ‘witness the complete devastation you have created’
The father of a teenager who starred in adverts for a well-known Australian hat brand and killed herself after being bullied online has vowed her life “will not be wasted” as a campaign against cyberbullying gains traction.
A memorial for 14-year-old Amy Everett, known as Dolly, who was once the face of the wide-brimmed Akubra hat, is being held Friday following her suicide on January 3 after constant harassment.
Her family launched the #stopbullyingnow campaign, which has rapidly spread on social media, and plan to establish the “Dolly’s Dream” trust to raise awareness around bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide.
“This week has been an example of how social media should be used, it has also been an example of how it shouldn’t be,” her father Tick Everett said in an emotional Facebook post.
“If we can help other precious lives from being lost and the suffering of so many, then Doll’s life will not be wasted.”
Tick invited his daughter’s tormentors to her service to “witness the complete devastation you have created”, while advocating that others stand up to cyberbullying.