“I didn’t expect to win and I was very surprised,” Hockley told News 12, adding that the group was very honored, especially because of who was in the ad.
“Teenage Dream” PSA flips Katy Perry’s upbeat hit and re-records the song using real-life school shooting survivors. The original carefree lyrics are solemnly recited and sung by those whose teenage dreams were robbed of her by gun violence.
“The magic part of this PSA is the strength of the school shooting survivors who spoke up and demonstrated how their teenage dreams have changed for these kids and kids across the country. I have,” said Hockley.
Each survivor’s personal story is displayed on the screen. Injuries, people lost, how they survived, etc. Some lift pictures and X-rays. One shows her scars. Survivors include Aalayah Eastmond, who hid under the body of her dead friend when she was shot in Parkland, Fla., in 2018. Nick Walzack, who was paralyzed after she was shot three times in the 2012 school shooting in Chardon, Ohio. Chase Yarbrough, who took her six bullets in a school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas in 2018, still has bullets in her heart. Nolan Brandy was shot in the kidney in a class during a shooting in San Bernardino, California in 2017, killing her teacher and classmates. Mia Paige Toretta was shot in the stomach during a 2019 shooting in Santa Clarita, California, killing her best friend next to her.
“Teenage Dream” beat out heavy hitters like Apple, Chevy and Meta at the Emmy Awards. Hockley also pointed to another gun violence prevention ad. This ad is from Change the Ref and she was nominated for Outstanding Commercial.
“Having two gun violence prevention organizations was very special in itself,” Hockley explains. “As we take awareness of this issue and message to a more national level, all we want is for people to know that gun violence can be prevented if they know the signs.”
Hockley said he was grateful for the award, but said it would be difficult to win.
“We shouldn’t be making these public service announcements,” she told News 12. need to stop it. So it’s very, very bittersweet. Dylan is now a senior in high school and should be there. ”
This is Sandy Hook Promise’s second Emmy Award and third Outstanding Commercial Nomination. The group previously won his PSA for “Back to School Essentials.”