Marie Osmond turns 63: Star remembers son Michael Blosil, who killed himself after being bullied
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
OGDEN, UTAH: Legendary singer, actress, and author Marie Osmond rang in her 63rd birthday on Thursday, October 13.
She celebrated the milestone with her two daughters, Rachael and Jessica, who had surprised her with a banana cream pie. She was also wished by a large host of followers online from across the globe.
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Osmond has had a successful career that has spanned more than four decades. She is very well known her for her rendition of the song country pop ballad ‘Paper Roses’ and the television show 'Donny & Marie', which she hosted alongside her brother Donny. However, this birthday for Osmond has proved to be a tumultuous affair as she opened up about the suicide of her son Michael Blosil, 12 years ago in 2010. He was 17 at the time of his death.
While it is said that time heals all wounds, it would seem that the pain of outliving a child never truly goes away. In a post dedicated to him two days ahead of her birthday, Osmond said, “It’s been 12 years since my sweet Michael passed away. He fought depression for much of his life and was only 17 when he took his life—He was too young to know that things get better.”
“We all encounter times where the future seems bleak. This #mentalhealthawarenessday, it is my earnest hope that if you encounter these same demons and struggles in your life, that you keep holding on. Please, please remember things WILL get better and the light WILL come again. You are loved, needed and you are wanted!” her post further read.
Blosil was among her five adopted children and Osmond did her best to help him due to his mental health issues. She has made it known that Blosil was a grave victim of bullying by his peers as well, in a report by AmoMama.
In an appearance on an episode of ‘The Talk’, where Osmond stood in for Sara Gilbert, she said, "I have never spoken about this before," she told her colleagues, "But my son, who died, he was bullied. He was bullied very heavily right up until the time that he committed suicide, because of his sobriety."
According to USA Today, Osmond has kept some of the bullying texts and had some choice words to share about them. “I've got the texts – I mean they're horrendous, and I never took action against it, but I can tell you, honestly, that I believe that that was a high component in him just feeling overwhelmed and that he didn’t fit in. I never took action against the three kids," she said.
She also justified her choice not to take action by saying, “In my heart, I feel they know what they did, and they have to live with that consequence, and so that's kind of where I have stayed on it, but maybe it'll help other kids that don't think much about it, take it seriously."