Philadelphia — GSK is partnering with Lifetime to debut Pretty Hurts, a new original film airing June 28, 2025, that aims to raise awareness about the risks of meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis, particularly among teens and young adults. The movie is part of GSK’s ongoing Ask2BSure campaign, which encourages parents to talk to their teen’s doctor about the full range of meningitis vaccinations.
Pretty Hurts follows the story of Julie, a busy working mom played by actress Haylie Duff, whose daughter’s involvement in a high school beauty pageant takes a dramatic turn when meningitis hits close to home. The film highlights the emotional and community-wide impact of the disease, which—though rare—can be serious and is more likely to affect individuals between the ages of 16 and 23.
As part of the campaign, Hollywood moms Alyson Hannigan and Sarah Michelle Gellar have joined forces with GSK to help spotlight the importance of vaccination. Hannigan, mother to a 16-year-old, said she was compelled to support the campaign after learning about the real-life experiences of families affected by meningitis.
“As a mom, I know how hard it can be to stay on top of everything—especially when it comes to health,” Hannigan said. “It’s so important to ask the right questions about meningitis risk and vaccination. I’m proud to be part of Ask2BSure to help other parents feel empowered to speak up.”
GSK’s campaign stresses that while many teens receive vaccinations against meningitis serogroups A, C, W, and Y, fewer are protected against meningitis B—a gap that Pretty Hurts and the Ask2BSure campaign aim to address.
Cynthia Burman, U.S. Medical Affairs Lead for Neisseria Vaccines at GSK, emphasized that the movie provides a unique platform to engage parents. “Partnering with Lifetime on this film allows us to deliver impactful, educational content that helps families start important conversations with their healthcare providers about meningitis prevention.”
Pretty Hurts follows GSK and Lifetime’s 2023 short film I Never Thought to Ask: A Mom’s Quest for Answers, which also focused on meningitis B awareness. The new feature-length film will premiere on Lifetime on Saturday, June 28, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
