A Smithfield mother is speaking out after her teenage daughter was deliberately excluded from a party and told her appearance was the reason she wasn’t welcome.
Samantha Frew, a Smithfield, Rhode Island, mother, is not staying quiet.
After her 14-year-old daughter Starrla was left out of a large group gathering and told by classmates that she was too manly and that boys don’t like her, Frew took to Facebook to speak her mind.
The post quickly gained attention from parents in the community and beyond.
Frew made it clear she had no regrets about posting.
“I will post whatever I want whenever I want and if people don’t like it too bad,” she wrote. “I can’t help that I overreact when my daughter is feeling hurt.”
According to Frew, the situation was more targeted than a simple party snub.
A specific group of girls who were deliberately cherry-picked were invited, and then made sure Starrla knew exactly why she was left out.
What made it sting even more was that these were the same girls who had been pursuing Starrla’s friendship just a month earlier.
From Friendship to Cruelty in a Matter of Weeks
Frew described the whiplash her daughter experienced going from being sought after socially to being told she wasn’t attractive enough to be included.
She says the comments about Starrla being too manly and unwanted by boys were intentional and cruel.
Frew had to delete her original post after Starrla began facing backlash at school, but she stood firm on her right to speak up as a parent.
She also confirmed she has contacted the school, spoken to parents directly, and even involved the police in past incidents involving her daughter.
This was not her first time advocating for Starrla, and she made clear it would not be her last.
The post drew significant support from other parents who shared their own experiences with teen bullying and social exclusion. Many praised Frew for being vocal where other parents stay silent.
What Other Parents Are Saying
Paula Murray Frew commented,
“Bullying and exclusion are not OK anywhere or anytime. Because your child has awesome parents who listen and engage your child is safe. We’ve all heard stories of children who commit suicide because of bullying. Wake up parents. Thanks for speaking up Sam.”
Luanna Faye Arrington wrote,
“This was intentionally done to be mean, period full stop. What kind of adults will they grow up to be? She is not missing out on a great party with cool kids, she is actually being saved from a future of fake friendships. To plot on being cruel is a sign of weakness and insecurity, they learned it at home.”
Brandy Merritt added,
“It is your Facebook, say what you want and if they don’t like it don’t look at it. Tell Starrla to keep her head up. They only pick on her because they are jealous. Stay tough Mama Bear.”
Rebecca E Rose-Gentile said,
“You advocate for your child anywhere anytime. That is what good parents do. Thank God she has you for a mom.”
Frew closed her post with a message that summed up her approach to parenting.
She does not sugarcoat struggles, she does not only share the highlights, and she will always have her daughter’s back, no matter who has a problem with it.
