Lady Gaga has stood up for a friend's daughter, who she discovered was being bullied at school. She took to Instagram and posted a video talking directly to the children at the school, encouraging them to "be kinder" and be brave enough to stand up to the popular kids.
"Hi everybody at El Marino Elementary. This is Lady Gaga. I'm friends with Venice, and I work with Venice's mommy, Julie," she began.
"I'm really, really sad to hear that Venice is being bullied at school."
She continued: "I work a lot in the space of anti-bullying and I have learned that this can really change the growth and happiness of children all over the world."
"So, I encourage you all to be kind to one another and to search within your community for bravery.
"Sometimes, it's hard to stand up to the popular kids and hang out with someone who's being bullied.
"Be kinder. Be braver. Go and sit with Venice and have lunch. Be a rebel," Gaga added.
The singer's Born This Way Foundation has done a lot to combat bullying over the years as she explained to TIME in 2012.
"I'm doing everything that I can, working with experts, really studying the statistics to figure out a way we can make it cool or normal to be kind and loving," she said, admitting that she too was bullied in school.
"We do not make a distinction between the bully and the victim," she continued. "Each person is an equally important and valuable member of society. What the foundation is about is a transformative change that is going to take a long time to affect the overall culture. Bullies were born this way, too."
Gaga has been recovering following her recent battle with chronic pain which forced her to postpone the European leg of her Joanne World Tour. Following a hospitalisation, she told fans that she is on the mend and is hoping to be back on stage soon.
