Latest news with #MishaBrown
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Man Is Harassed in High School for Being Gay. 20 Years Later, He Has a Shocking Interaction with His Bully (Exclusive)
Two decades after being bullied for being gay, he got a message that brought the past full circle and offered something close to healing Two decades after graduating from high school, Misha Brown received an unexpected message from someone he never thought he'd hear from again: his former bully. The message wasn't just an apology — it was a deeply personal admission. The man's 15-year-old son had just come out as gay, prompting the father to reflect on how he once treated others. For the 37-year-old influencer, who came out around the same age as his bully's son, the apology brought a wave of emotion. 'Honestly, when I first saw the message come through, I didn't know what to expect,' Brown tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'I couldn't think of a single reason as to why he'd reach out. But there it was, and I opened it.' In the message, the man admitted that his first thought after learning his son was gay was hoping the teen would be met with more kindness than he had shown Brown in the past. Growing up in a tiny town in Western New York, Brown was a bright and expressive boy who stood out from his peers. Obsessed with singing Whitney Houston songs and playing Polly Pockets, he was often bullied — an experience that tainted his adolescent life. 'Being bullied as a child truly shaped the entire experience of growing up. I overanalyzed every part of myself. How was I standing? Was I too loud? Was I safe in my surroundings?' Brown recalls. 'It made me perform, in a way, because the one space I excelled in was as a performer. Acceptance became the only currency I craved, and it made me put a lot of pressure on myself.' Over the years, Brown has built a multi-hyphenate career across theatre, social media, and podcasting. He is the host of the hit Wondery podcast, The Big Flop, and leverages a loyal following of nearly 4 million across platforms. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'As my platform has grown, I saw the impact that it can have. I want to be a bridge and try my best to bring people together,' Brown says. 'A lot of people have experienced bullying, feeling like they have been left behind, or don't love themselves, and I use my platform to let them know that they are not broken or alone.' Parents of queer youth often tell Brown that they share his content with their kids to show them they're strong, worthy, and deserving of a full, authentic life. His debut book, Be Your Own Bestie, out February 2026, explores Brown's journey and how he came to embrace every part of himself. While this isn't the first time someone has reached out to apologize or reconnect, this message – from this particular bully – hit differently. 'I've seen a lot of comments on my video where people don't think that I should accept his apology. That having gayness 'happen' to him is not a good enough penance. But that's not who I am. I cried when I read what he wrote to me,' Brown admits. 'I cried for me, the little boy who desperately cried in his mom's arms, begging to not be gay. I cried for his son, who gets to have a dad like mine, who loves their kid no matter what. And I cried because I am a chronically optimistic person (so annoying) and this is proof that there is goodness in people, even if they don't always show it.' In response, Brown told his former classmate that the apology was completely unexpected, but extremely appreciated. He acknowledged the courage it takes to admit past wrongs and let him know that the love he showed for his son helped heal some of the pain Brown had been carrying for years. 'I would say that makes up for something, and I told him as much, but, wow. What a cool feeling to get that moment. I guess people can change,' Brown said in his video, which has since amassed over 2.4 million views on TikTok. Through years of healing and introspection, Brown has learned to embrace who he is and block out the negativity. Sharing that growth publicly has opened doors he never expected — and, in its own way, led him to this powerful moment. 'I want for people to experience hope from this story…so many people have struggled through similar experiences, and maybe they can find a little healing of their own through this apology from my bully,' Brown tells PEOPLE. 'We can't change other people or will them to give us retribution, but we can control how we show up for ourselves. I'm grateful that I got this moment, but I'm more lucky that I am in a place to accept it.' Read the original article on People
West Australian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Man gets message from former high school bully, 20 years after being harassed for being gay
Misha Brown was surprised to receive a message from someone who once caused him great pain, his high school bully. The unexpected note didn't just apologise, it reflected a deeper personal admission: the bully's 15-year-old son had recently come out as gay, prompting the man to reconsider how he had treated others in the past. For Brown, now 37 and a well-known influencer, the apology stirred strong emotions. 'Honestly, when I first saw the message come through, I didn't know what to expect,' Brown told People. 'I couldn't think of a single reason as to why he'd reach out. But there it was, and I opened it,' he said. The man shared that his initial hope after learning about his son was that the teen would experience the kindness he never showed Brown. Growing up in a small Western New York town, Brown recalls being a bright, expressive boy who loved singing Whitney Houston songs and playing with Polly Pockets — interests that made him a target of bullying and profoundly affected his adolescence. 'Being bullied as a child truly shaped the entire experience of growing up. I over-analysed every part of myself,' Brown said. 'Acceptance became the only currency I craved, and it made me put a lot of pressure on myself.' Since then, Brown has developed a multifaceted career in theatre, social media, and podcasting. Hosting the popular Wondery podcast The Big Flop and amassing nearly 4 million followers online, he uses his platform to connect people and foster self-acceptance. 'As my platform has grown, I saw the impact that it can have. I want to be a bridge and try my best to bring people together,' Brown said. 'A lot of people have experienced bullying, feeling like they have been left behind, or don't love themselves, and I use my platform to let them know that they are not broken or alone.' His upcoming book, Be Your Own Bestie, set for release in February 2026, explores his personal journey toward self-love. While Brown has received apologies from others before, this one struck a different chord. 'I cried when I read what he wrote to me,' Brown admitted. 'I cried for me, the little boy who desperately cried in his mum's arms, begging to not be gay. I cried for his son… and I cried because I am a chronically optimistic person (so annoying) and this is proof that there is goodness in people, even if they don't always show it.' Brown responded to his former bully, recognising the courage it took to acknowledge past mistakes and expressing gratitude for the healing his message brought. 'What a cool feeling to get that moment. I guess people can change,' he said, reflecting on the T ikTok video of their exchange that has over 2.4 million views. He hopes this story offers hope and healing to others who have endured similar hardships. 'We can't change other people or will them to give us retribution, but we can control how we show up for ourselves. I'm grateful that I got this moment, but I'm more lucky that I am in a place to accept it,' Brown told People,
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
‘Did not expect that': Shock bully reunion 20 years later
Misha Brown was surprised to receive a message from someone who once caused him great pain, his high school bully. The unexpected note didn't just apologise, it reflected a deeper personal admission: the bully's 15-year-old son had recently come out as gay, prompting the man to reconsider how he had treated others in the past. For Brown, now 37 and a well-known influencer, the apology stirred strong emotions. 'Honestly, when I first saw the message come through, I didn't know what to expect,' Brown told People. 'I couldn't think of a single reason as to why he'd reach out. But there it was, and I opened it,' he said. The man shared that his initial hope after learning about his son was that the teen would experience the kindness he never showed Brown. Growing up in a small Western New York town, Brown recalls being a bright, expressive boy who loved singing Whitney Houston songs and playing with Polly Pockets — interests that made him a target of bullying and profoundly affected his adolescence. 'Being bullied as a child truly shaped the entire experience of growing up. I over-analysed every part of myself,' Brown said. 'Acceptance became the only currency I craved, and it made me put a lot of pressure on myself.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Since then, Brown has developed a multifaceted career in theatre, social media, and podcasting. Hosting the popular Wondery podcast The Big Flop and amassing nearly 4 million followers online, he uses his platform to connect people and foster self-acceptance. 'As my platform has grown, I saw the impact that it can have. I want to be a bridge and try my best to bring people together,' Brown said. 'A lot of people have experienced bullying, feeling like they have been left behind, or don't love themselves, and I use my platform to let them know that they are not broken or alone.' His upcoming book, Be Your Own Bestie, set for release in February 2026, explores his personal journey toward self-love. While Brown has received apologies from others before, this one struck a different chord. 'I cried when I read what he wrote to me,' Brown admitted. 'I cried for me, the little boy who desperately cried in his mum's arms, begging to not be gay. I cried for his son… and I cried because I am a chronically optimistic person (so annoying) and this is proof that there is goodness in people, even if they don't always show it.' Brown responded to his former bully, recognising the courage it took to acknowledge past mistakes and expressing gratitude for the healing his message brought. 'What a cool feeling to get that moment. I guess people can change,' he said, reflecting on the TikTok video of their exchange that has over 2.4 million views. He hopes this story offers hope and healing to others who have endured similar hardships. 'We can't change other people or will them to give us retribution, but we can control how we show up for ourselves. I'm grateful that I got this moment, but I'm more lucky that I am in a place to accept it,' Brown told People,
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Man Is Harassed in High School for Being Gay. 20 Years Later, He Has a Shocking Interaction with His Bully (Exclusive)
Two decades after being bullied for being gay, he got a message that brought the past full circle and offered something close to healing Two decades after graduating from high school, Misha Brown received an unexpected message from someone he never thought he'd hear from again: his former bully. The message wasn't just an apology — it was a deeply personal admission. The man's 15-year-old son had just come out as gay, prompting the father to reflect on how he once treated others. For the 37-year-old influencer, who came out around the same age as his bully's son, the apology brought a wave of emotion. 'Honestly, when I first saw the message come through, I didn't know what to expect,' Brown tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'I couldn't think of a single reason as to why he'd reach out. But there it was, and I opened it.' In the message, the man admitted that his first thought after learning his son was gay was hoping the teen would be met with more kindness than he had shown Brown in the past. Growing up in a tiny town in Western New York, Brown was a bright and expressive boy who stood out from his peers. Obsessed with singing Whitney Houston songs and playing Polly Pockets, he was often bullied — an experience that tainted his adolescent life. 'Being bullied as a child truly shaped the entire experience of growing up. I overanalyzed every part of myself. How was I standing? Was I too loud? Was I safe in my surroundings?' Brown recalls. 'It made me perform, in a way, because the one space I excelled in was as a performer. Acceptance became the only currency I craved, and it made me put a lot of pressure on myself.' Over the years, Brown has built a multi-hyphenate career across theatre, social media, and podcasting. He is the host of the hit Wondery podcast, The Big Flop, and leverages a loyal following of nearly 4 million across platforms. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'As my platform has grown, I saw the impact that it can have. I want to be a bridge and try my best to bring people together,' Brown says. 'A lot of people have experienced bullying, feeling like they have been left behind, or don't love themselves, and I use my platform to let them know that they are not broken or alone.' Parents of queer youth often tell Brown that they share his content with their kids to show them they're strong, worthy, and deserving of a full, authentic life. His debut book, Be Your Own Bestie, out February 2026, explores Brown's journey and how he came to embrace every part of himself. While this isn't the first time someone has reached out to apologize or reconnect, this message – from this particular bully – hit differently. 'I've seen a lot of comments on my video where people don't think that I should accept his apology. That having gayness 'happen' to him is not a good enough penance. But that's not who I am. I cried when I read what he wrote to me,' Brown admits. 'I cried for me, the little boy who desperately cried in his mom's arms, begging to not be gay. I cried for his son, who gets to have a dad like mine, who loves their kid no matter what. And I cried because I am a chronically optimistic person (so annoying) and this is proof that there is goodness in people, even if they don't always show it.' In response, Brown told his former classmate that the apology was completely unexpected, but extremely appreciated. He acknowledged the courage it takes to admit past wrongs and let him know that the love he showed for his son helped heal some of the pain Brown had been carrying for years. 'I would say that makes up for something, and I told him as much, but, wow. What a cool feeling to get that moment. I guess people can change,' Brown said in his video, which has since amassed over 2.4 million views on TikTok. Through years of healing and introspection, Brown has learned to embrace who he is and block out the negativity. Sharing that growth publicly has opened doors he never expected — and, in its own way, led him to this powerful moment. 'I want for people to experience hope from this story…so many people have struggled through similar experiences, and maybe they can find a little healing of their own through this apology from my bully,' Brown tells PEOPLE. 'We can't change other people or will them to give us retribution, but we can control how we show up for ourselves. I'm grateful that I got this moment, but I'm more lucky that I am in a place to accept it.' Read the original article on People
