X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Emily Osment Says ABC Family's Cyberbully Will Shock People

In the fight against teen bullying, the very special TV movie is the obvious next step — hence, ABC Family's Cyberbully. For Emily Osment, playing a tortured teen was emotionally draining. "The hardest thing was being on set every day and having to get into the state of mind where I was crying," Osment tells TVGuide.com. "It was emotionally strenuous."

robyn-ross.jpg
Robyn Ross

In the fight against teen bullying, the very special TV movie is the obvious next step — hence, ABC Family's Cyberbully.

For Emily Osment, playing a tortured teen was emotionally draining. "The hardest thing was being on set every day and having to get into the state of mind where I was crying," Osment tells TVGuide.com. "It was emotionally strenuous."

Osment, best known for her role as (Miley BFF) Lilly Truscott on Disney's Hannah Montana, plays Taylor Hillridge, a 17-year-old who falls victim to extreme torment online. Taylor's mom (The O.C.'sKelly Rowan) lobbies the school and local government for help.

"The biggest message in this film is that Taylor didn't feel like she had anyone to talk to about it," Osment says. "She didn't think anyone was going through the same type of pain that she was experiencing and it made it that much harder."

Osment says she hopes Cyberbully helps teens in trouble. "This is a very effective film and has a strong message, a message that we're trying conduct in a different way," she says. "There are a lot of teen help lines and anonymous websites you can go on, but this is the first time a movie has truly been made just about cyber-bullying. It's going to be a shock for everyone and I think that's a good thing. I hope it will make a difference."

Watch a clip from the movie below:

Cyberbully premieres on Sunday at 8/7c on ABC Family.