Pete Alonso Swings At Cyberbullying in “Shred Hate” PSA
When Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is in the headlines, it’s usually for his record-chasing home runs or strong campaign for Rookie of the Year. Now, with his newfound platform and power, Alonso is stepping up to the plate to take on a new opponent: cyberbullying.
Amid a Home Run Derby victory and a Mets winning streak, Alonso has found the time to team up with DoSomething, MLB, ESPN, and X Games for their Shred Hate campaign. He was recently featured in a PSA alongside X Games freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, inspiring young people to report bullying and troll accounts online.
In the PSA, Alonso talks about his own experiences with online hate, saying that his posts and DMs get “terrible comments,” while Kenworthy highlights that people even make fake accounts to bully others.
The anti-cyberbullying campaign is encouraging young people to anonymously report hateful social media comments and accounts, and over 2,000 have already taken action against 11,637 posts.
“Some people would comment hateful words or make sarcastic comments on my pictures and I felt like I couldn’t do anything,” said Kristal, a DoSomething member who participated in the movement. “This campaign can really make an impact in the lives of many, and I was fortunate enough to join and be part of such an amazing movement.”
“When people see this negativity every day it pushes them towards the negative,” said Joseph, another participant. “I’m glad we’re doing something to help push people to the positives.”
Making the internet a kinder place takes teamwork. Join Pete and Gus to flag cyberbullying through the Shred Hate campaign, presented by MLB, and ESPN. (There’s even a scholarship sweepstakes for those 13-25 years old!)
