Former child actor Jonathan Lipnicki became a universal symbol of cuteness in Jerry Maguire and Stuart Little, but the now 26-year-old actor and Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt has revealed he was often the target of bullying in his younger years.
In a candid Instagram post, Lipnicki opened up about his “lifelong battle with anxiety and depression.”
“As a kid/teen I was made fun of relentlessly by some people who are now even my friends on FB,” he wrote in the post. “I was told I was a has-been and would never book a job again.”
“I didn’t go a day without being called some form of gay slur, or a hateful slur pretty much every day of middle school,” he’s also shared.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Here it is in full:
The post (as you can see above) attracted lots of attention, which Lipnicki addressed in a follow-up:
We commend him for sharing his story, and for reminding us that success doesn’t happen in a vacuum — it’s built upon failure and setback.
And speaking of success, we can’t imagine he has to worry about too much bullying these days:
You can catch Lipnicki soon in the film Pitching Tents. “I’m out to prove anyone wrong that’s ever doubted me,” he says. “I love work and I love the art of it. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to go and say, ’Look at me now. I’m happy. I’m creating my art and you can’t stop me.’”
Related video:
Jack Meoff
So is this guy even gay? What’s the point of the story?
seaguy
His story resonates with many in the gay community who were bullied, and is inspiration for gay or straight kids to realize they are not alone. So the point of the story is some gay teen who is being bullied in school and contemplating suicide might read this and think wow look at him I can do that too.
Jack Meoff
I think it’s more a case of any excuse for some editorial on the part of someone who’s career needs a boost and bullying is a hot topic right now.
DarkZephyr
C’mon with the snarky cynicism for GOD’S sake. Who knows if he’s gay but he was still treated badly by homophobes because they perceived him that way. You don’t have to actually be gay to be negatively impacted by homophobia or even be the victim of it.
Juanjo
Who pissed in your cheerios this morning, Negative Nancy?
Vince
Mostly to do with him being hot with 6 pack abs. Oh yeah, hottie has something important like to say. Add 20 years or 20 lbs and it won’t matter if he’s actually gay and got the most important thing to say.
jjose712
Everyone with a brain knows you don’t need to be gay to be subjected to homophic bullying specially in school.
A straight teen who practises ballet has more chances to be subjected to homophobic slurs than a gay one who practises karate.
That kind of bullying in a big percentage of cases has more to do with perception of masculinity than with real sexual orientation
jpcolter
For God’s sake its about bullying. Everything does not have to be about being gay.
charlie_jackpot
I think the point of the story is if you are being bullied you need to bulk up :s
lauraspencer
Sorry that he was bullied.
Not sure that a 5’7″ guy posting photos of his half naked torso and sharing his story with the public to gain validation screams that he has healed from the bullying. If anything it suggests how damaged he is by seeking out validation from strangers.
Weird mixed message Mr. Lipnicki.
Lvng1Tor
Remind me where you received your PHD in psychology again?
lauraspencer
Columbia University
Ari Gold
I was thinking the same thing. When in doubt, post half naked photos showing the people who bullied you that you know what a gym is. I mean has-beens can’t possibly afford a membership right?
seaguy
Stick to your job on GMA honey.
lauraspencer
Cute comment, but I think you are confusing me with Lara Spencer. My name is Laura. I like Lara, but she is no relation.
DarkZephyr
You aren’t sorry, Laura.
DarkZephyr
“He’s just doing this for validation!” = the exact kind of thing a bully would say.
Juanjo
Well Laura, if indeed you do have a PHd in psychology as you claim then you are well aware it is a breach of ethics as well as malpractice to issue an opinion such as you have based upon an article in the media.
But thanks for sharing with us.
lauraspencer
I wasn’t offering a diagnosis. That would have to take place in an office and with a patient. This is a blog and Mr. Lipnicki is not a patient.
Vince
Dirk Diggler: You don’t know what I can do! You don’t know what I can do, what I’m gonna do, or what I’m gonna be! I’m good! I have good things and you don’t know about! I’m gonna be something! I am! And don’t fu*king tell me I’m not!
spacecadet
Why do you point out his height? Is that supposed to be shameful? A lot of men 5’7″ and shorter have been quite successful whether in Hollywood or other professions. And so what if he shows of his very nice torso. He worked hard on it and has every right to show it off and for others to appreciate it. Not everyone who shows off their bodies are insecure. Sounds like you might be the one who’s jealous and a bit insecure yourself.
Terrycloth
So , has he come out ? Nowhere does it say he is gay or has come out.just that he was bullied..
Juanjo
read more carefully about some of the issues he was bullied about, Terrycloth. There are moth holes in your argument.
Raphael
No, but have you seen his instagram? Men everywhere…
Bryguyf69
I just don’t understand people who criticize Queerty on the basis on contents. First of, Queerty is not journalism and it has never claimed to be such. It is a collection of blogs and the contents is whatever strikes the bloggers’ interest. That includes attractive men who aren’t gay. Do you, as gay men, ever oogle or talk about attractive straight men? Well, why should Queerty bloggers be any different? Readers always have the option TO NOT READ.
As for this article, regardless of whether he is gay, many gays can relate to his story of bullying. Furthermore, he specifically says that he was called gay slurs. So whether you can relate to him, he can certainly relate to you. That makes this story relevant.
seaguy
Well said!
DarkZephyr
The hate filled, judgmental comment section of Queerty always makes me reluctant to share these stories in groups and such because I am afraid of the snark-meisters of Queerty’s readership being seen as representative of the LGBTQ community, particularly of gay men.
Chris
“You had me at ‘I was bullied.’ ” ….. That being said, the pics seem to have turned this into something other than an anti-bullying statement.
DCguy
It must be weird to be a kid actor, working that young and then you can’t rely on past work like an adult actor because you don’t look or sound anything like you did when you were last onscreen.
spacecadet
I think that’s why we’ve seen a lot of child actors whose lives end up in headlines for all the wrong reasons and some have their lives cut tragically short. Some just aren’t adequately prepared to adjust to the transition to a phase that’s not quite as successful or in other cases, the success went a bit too much to their heads.
GayEGO
When I was a musician in the Navy, I got teased because I played the flute, but I always took the humorous action, joking with the teasers. Today, the bullies need to be stopped and punished because they are not helping humanity.
crowebobby
Being teased when you’re in the Navy and being teased when you’re in middle school aren’t exactly the same thing. Combating the teasing with humor is almost always the best way, but many middle school children just aren’t mature enough or don’t have a quick enough wit to do it. Like you, I have always been able to give as good as I got . . . and usually better. Also, there hugely different degrees of teasing, from the light verbal sting to the outright vicious assault.
arcoarconcio_passivy
It´s Married luck perfil love cupiduim love it´s the that flyer is flyer .
Moritz
One can only hope that these snarkmeisters are not representative of most gay men. I know that is the stereotype (petty bitches) but most gays I meet have real lives and don’t have the time or energy it takes to be a full time be-atch.
That being said, I am glad that Queerty has stories like this, so we are not ghettoized into thinking we are the only ones that experience certain things. As for being called a has-been, he just has to tell the bullies that that is much better than being a never-was.
mz.sam
Talented actor Jonathan is an inspiration and a great role model for youths against bullying. Besides, he appeared in a Los Angeles local theater a while back appearing fully nude. For a highly muscular, little guy he was proud of showing off his thick beer can…eventhough the play sucked.
ProfessorMoriarty
That’s hot.
crowebobby
I’m amazed no one is calling you a pedophile because he was once a child.
Tombear
Hot man, I’d do him!
chris33133
He was bullied and overcame it. Props to him for that. ….. He has his own reasons for sharing his story with the world at this moment. I see people’s inferences about his motivations as saying more about them than it does about him.
lauraspencer
Why is this story being reposted from March?? Slow news day at Queerty? This story was from the Spring of this year.
DCguy
It was fun to read your response again to the question “Remind us again where you got your Phd in Psychology”.
And your one word response. LOL Still cracks me up.
ShowMeGuy
The story is being reposted 1) because most people don’t spend every waking hour of their life sitting at a computer reading Queerty, so this is NEW news for them….2) It is Christmas weekend and while most businesses take some time off for the holiday, the internet is always open and the site needs content to keep people clicking, which drives those advertising rates the site can charge which keeps the site free for users……3) Merry Christmas; lauraspencer, looks like you could stand some joy in your life.
silveroracle
Can’t see the video because of stupid Waywire.
Does anyone have a link to the video?
Knight
Calling BS here. for the past 7 years this former actor has been showing off his body/6-pack…and it really hasn’t gotten him anywhere. So, now, suddenly he was the victim of bullying? A former child actor who has had a muscular body since he was in his early teens…
yeah…that happened.