Selena Gomez Offers Support For Bullied Teen Whitney Crop

Selena Gomez has joined the list of supporters for Whitney Kropp, the high school sophomore from Michigan who was the victim of a cruel prank by bullying schoolmates.

Kropp, a quiet student who mainly keeps to herself, was shocked to hear this month that she was nominated for homecoming queen at her Ogemaw Heights High School.

But laughs and bullying from her peers helped her quickly learn that the nomination was meant only to make fun of her. Kropp noted that her black clothing and colorful hairstyles make her stand out as a target in her rural town.

But the joke was on her classmates, because as word of her nomination spread, the town and then rest of the country rallied around Whitney Kropp.

Supporters started a Facebook for Kropp but it was another social media site that helped Kropp get her highest-profile advocate yet, MLive.com reported.

Actress Selena Gomez took to Twitter to offer a message of support for Whitney Kropp, who also linked to a CNN.com story about Kropp so her followers could learn more about the situation.

Congrats Whitney on making homecoming court, you deserve it.cnn.com/2012/09/28/us/…

— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) September 28, 2012

As MLive.com notes, the tweet puts Kropp one degree of separation away from teen sensation Justin Bieber, the boyfriend of Selena Gomez.

The Selena Gomez tweet shows just how far Whitney Crop’s story has reached. After the nearby Detroit News reported on how her classmates “thought it would be funny if the popularity contest was won by someone who was unpopular,” the story spread across the country and the world.

Kropp was featured on NBC’s Today show in one segment where the 16-year-old talked about how the prank made her feel like a “piece of trash” and even led to thoughts of suicide.

Now Kropp’s support at home has turned around too. Many people who learned about her story said they plan to attend the homecoming game with “Team Whitney” shirts. A local restaurant will pick up her dinner bill, a photographer will memorialize the night and all of her makeup, hair, and nails will be done for free as well.

Whitney Kropp’s support from Hollywood might extend further than Selena Gomez. The Los Angeles Times implied that her story could make a good movie.