(Photo Credit: today.com)

Shawn Mendes Was Bullied In Early Years Of Music Career

Singer Shawn Mendes penned an emotional Instagram post about his early years, when he was just a high school student posting YouTube videos of himself–and the bullying he experienced as a result. Mendes said that when he first started making music, older boys bullied him at school, yelling “sing for me, Shawn.”

Obviously, Mendez got the last laugh, as he’s gained fame and fortune in the music industry. Now he’s using the experience to inspire others to follow their dreams in spite of the haters.

“In a way that made me feel absolutely horrible… made me feel like a joke, like what I was doing was just stupid & wrong,” Mendes says of the bullying. “I was lucky though, I had the best friends & the best parents anyone could ask for… no matter what they would never let me stop doing what I LOVED to do just because someone ELSE thought it was stupid…It’s not joking to me. To make someone feel bad about doing what they love… every single person deserves to do what makes them feel alive.”

Mendes encouraged all of his fans to keep doing what they love, whether they’re 15 years old or 50.

“I know it’s not just that easy & I’m not asking you to change your world overnight,” Mendes wrote. “BUT I want you to know that no matter how old you are, no matter who you are, no matter where you’re from… you deserve to follow your heart. I’m here & I’m rooting for you.”