Bullied Teen’s Emotional Homecoming Video About Having No Friends Sparks an Unbelievable Response
When 17-year-old Kaylee shared a short, emotional TikTok about feeling left out of her school’s homecoming season, she never imagined it would reach nearly 20 million people — and completely change her life. 💔➡️💖
The high school senior posted the candid video in September 2025, explaining that she wasn’t planning to attend her school’s dance after years of hurtful experiences. Dressed in her familiar green gown, she confessed that she had worn the same outfit every year because she didn’t have another — or any close friends to share the night with.
“Everyone’s doing the cute photoshoots and group dinners, and then there’s me — no friends, recycling the same homecoming dress I’ve been wearing since ninth grade,” Kaylee said in the clip.
Her honesty struck a nerve. The video quickly went viral, amassing more than 19.4 million views, as thousands of strangers poured into the comments to show support and empathy.
Opening Up About Years of Bullying
Speaking later with PEOPLE, Kaylee admitted she was stunned by the reaction.
@gluten.free.runne Homecoming? More like me, myself, and I sitting in the corner #glutenfreerunner #homecoming #hocodress #highschool #nofriends
“I never expected it to go viral at all,” she said. “People were just asking to see my dress, and when I mentioned I only had one because I didn’t want to go back after being bullied, it blew up from there.”
In follow-up videos, she revealed painful details of her high-school years filled with bullying and isolation. After her family moved to a new town before ninth grade, she struggled to fit in.
“I was bullied a lot — every single day,” she explained. “I sat alone at lunch. I was constantly made fun of… it got so bad we had to move again.”
After being teased throughout her ninth-grade homecoming, Kaylee skipped the next year entirely. Even when she returned in 11th grade as part of her leadership class, she left early, determined never to go again.
Kind Strangers Step In
Everything changed once her story spread online. Inspired followers — including one woman named Kaiti — reached out to offer dresses and words of encouragement.
“She sent me a video showing all the dresses,” Kaylee recalled. “I picked a few, and she even slipped in extra ones. We’ve been talking ever since — it’s been really nice.”
Celebrities and influencers such as Bella Hadid, Alix Earle, and Paige DeSorbo also left supportive messages, telling Kaylee she wasn’t alone.
A Night to Remember
With her new dress and newfound confidence, Kaylee decided to attend her senior homecoming after all — walking in proudly with her two brothers by her side.
“It actually went pretty good,” she said. “People came up to me and wanted to talk. That never happens, so it felt amazing.”
Now, the teen has built a community of more than 740,000 followers, many of whom call her a role model for speaking openly about loneliness, authenticity, and self-acceptance.
“A lot of people said I’m more real than most influencers,” she shared. “I just want to keep spreading that goodness.”
Choosing Positivity Over Hate
While most responses were supportive, a few critics accused Kaylee of exaggerating her story for attention. She says she’s learned to tune out negativity and focus on what truly matters.
“There are always going to be horrible people out there,” she said. “But you get to choose how you respond — and that makes all the difference. You’ll find your people eventually.”
From feeling invisible to inspiring millions, Kaylee’s story is a reminder that even a moment of honesty can turn pain into purpose — and strangers into friends. 🌸
