Spoiler: Madonna to pay homage to Brandon Bitner
On November 5, 2010, fourteen year old Brandon Bitner left his Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa. home during the early morning hours and walked alone, in the cold darkness, over 6 miles to a busy intersection on US Routes 11 & 15 near Liverpool, Pa.
When he arrived at his destination, Brandon stepped out in front of a Weis Markets tractor trailer truck and committed suicide.
Brandon’s mother Tammy discovered her son’s suicide note at their home before 4 AM that tragic Friday. Brandon addressed his love for his closest family and friends but also expressed his reasons for taking his own life.
In the suicide note, Brandon described constant bullying and harassment in the Midd-West School District, which had been happening for over five years. Fellow students constantly harassed Brandon on a daily basis for his appearance and his assumed sexual preference. Brandon was called gay, faggot, sissy, emo, goth, and witnesses even saw him being physically abused in the school hallways.
Brandon also laid out a mission for his family, friends, and supporters in his suicide note. He believed that his suicide would teach the school district, the surrounding communities and maybe even the world, that bullying is not something that should be taken lightly. Brandon specifically requested that his family and friends march on in his honor, to bring awareness to bullying and the mental and physical abuse that it causes.
Madonna has asked and obtained permission to use an image of Brandon as part of her upcoming tour. As this story contains moderate tour spoilers, it continues after the jump, although we would recommed to check it out anyway.
A Swedish film company will use a photo of Brandon Bitner – who took his life at the age of 14 on November 5, 2010 due to constant bullying at Midd-West High School in Middleburg – in a video they are producing for Madonna’s upcoming world tour, and will donate $5,000 to the Susquehanna University scholarship in Brandon’s name.
Katie Goodling, Brandon’s cousin, confirmed Saturday a deal with Adamsky Film Production of Stockholm to use Brandon’s photo, one of seven portraits of bullying victims to run in the video.
“I just mailed out a contract granting Madonna’s touring company permission to use Brandon’s photo in a video sequence for her 2012-2013 World Tour. More details to come, including info on Madonna donating to Brandon’s scholarship! This is very exciting and we are hoping all works out!” Katie wrote on the wall of the Facebook memorial group about her cousin.
Each will display with an RIP sign and the person’s name for about three seconds.
Katie also administers BrandonBitner.com, a website dedicated to bullying prevention and Brandon’s memory. Click here to check it out and learn more about him and his story.
Read more about this story in today’s edition of The Daily Item.