Doechii Opens Up About Overcoming Bullying and Finding Her Power
Before she was a Grammy-winning star, Doechii endured relentless bullying in high school—so much so that she nearly ended her own life.
In a raw and powerful interview with The Cut, she reflected on that dark time:
“I was getting bullied so bad that I was thinking about killing myself. Then I realized—oh, f***, if I do that, I’m the only one gone. The bullies won’t be with me, and everything they said won’t matter. I would just be gone.”
But instead of giving in, something shifted.
“And then I was like, F*** that! I’m not going for that! And this wash of peace came over me, and I received, ‘I am Doechii.’ It wasn’t just a name—it was a decision. I realized: I’m the most important character in this movie. This is my motherf***ing movie.”
Doechii isn’t the only TDE artist to speak openly about the lasting effects of bullying.
SZA has also shared how high school was a painful experience for her. She told People she was bullied for being different:
“I wasn’t quiet, but I was awkward. I wasn’t this tiny sad victim—I was just giving ‘What is wrong with you?’ energy.”
The Kill Bill singer admitted she struggled with feeling like an outsider:
“I always thought, ‘I’ll never have approval from anyone. This must be my defining factor.’”
But looking back, she sees things differently.
“All the things that made me feel lame actually shaped who I am. I didn’t go to prom because I had no one to go with… and now, I travel with a bodyguard to parties. If I had felt validated back then, I might not have pushed myself to do more. That shitty experience couldn’t be the end of my story—because if it was, I was cooked.”
Both Doechii and SZA turned their pain into purpose, proving that the toughest moments don’t define you—they fuel you.