• Home
  • Watch Video
  • TV Schedule
  • Our Films
  • Indie Lens Pop-Up
    • Screening Schedule
  • Blog
  • About
Support provided by: Learn More

Independent Lens

  • Watch Video
  • TV Schedule
  • Our Films
  • Indie Lens Pop-Up
    • Screening Schedule
  • Blog
  • About
An Update on Alex Libby

An Update on Alex Libby

October 15, 2014 | BY Craig Phillips
POSTED IN Social Justice
MORE ABOUT Bully
  • SHARE THIS
  • COMMENTS0

A common theme in the numerous comments we’ve received to-date on the film Bully, centers on one of the film’s most moving characters, Alex Libby, a sweet-natured Iowa teen who had been bullied for years. Since many viewers were worried about him and were understandably empathetic, we thought it might be good to give you an update on Alex.

First of all, to cut to the chase in the happiest of ways: this year Alex worked as an intern for the Bully Project itself, in their offices in New York City!

Last year, Alex was featured on CNN, and as you can see from this clip he’s evolving into a confident young man passionately hoping to help others who are being bullied:

Alex was also featured, along with Kelby Johnson, in a piece Anderson Cooper did on the film and bullying, called “The Bully Effect.” Here’s much more on Alex and the Libby family, in this Cartoon Network piece connected to the Cooper special: “The Bully Effect: Stop Bullying” (which also includes insight from the filmmaker behind Bully, Lee Hirsch):

As his mother says in the clip above, the family eventually left their Iowa town for Oklahoma City, where they found a school they felt had a better environment for both their kids. Here’s an encouraging follow-up on Sioux City after the film came out:

Angered and emboldened by the film, more parents and classmates have come forward to say other students have been bullied and school leaders didn’t stop it.

New grassroots parent groups have sprung up, intensifying a conversation now joined by much of Iowa and the nation. School leaders say they’ve learned from the experience and will stay focused on an issue that receives little attention in some districts.

Said Bully director Lee Hirsch, “Sioux City is a district of courage.”

And you’ll be happy to hear that Alex now says he has lots of friends. (ABC News)

If you missed Bully when it aired on PBS, it is available to watch online until November 13, 2014.

TAGS
alex libby bully bullying
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Craig Phillips

Craig is the digital content producer for Independent Lens, based in San Francisco. He is a film nerd, cartoonist, classic film poster collector, wannabe screenwriter, and owner of/owned by cats.
VIEW ALL POSTS BY Craig Phillips
PREVIOUS POST
Kelby Johnson Speaks Out Against Bullying
NEXT POST
Twin Sisters Filmmaker Captures Sibling Bond
Please review our comment guidelines.
  • Home
  • Watch Video
  • TV Schedule
  • Our Films
  • Indie Lens Pop-Up
  • Storycast
  • Blog
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Credits

© 2021 Independent Television Service (ITVS). All rights reserved.

PBS Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Be more independent. Help bring programs like Independent Lens to your PBS station...

pledge online!

SHOP | Buy DVDs at ShopPBS
  • PRESENTED BY
    ITVS
  • FUNDED BY
    Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  • WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
    Acton Family Giving MacArthur Foundation
    Wyncote Foundation Art Works. National Endowment for the Arts