AARP Betty White Campaign: Getting Over Aging Stereotypes
Author: AARP
Published: 2011/05/23 - Updated: 2026/02/04
Publication Type: Awareness, Appreciation
Category Topic: AARP - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This information details AARP's anti-ageism campaign featuring actress Betty White, who exemplifies successful aging by achieving Emmy-winning roles on Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, and Saturday Night Live - all after age 50. The material proves useful for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers by directly addressing the harmful stereotypes and limitations society places on those turning 50 and beyond. By featuring White's authentic perspective that "age is what you make of it," the campaign provides actionable encouragement for AARP members and Americans 50+ to reject age-based discrimination and access resources that support active, fulfilling lives in later years - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Age is Just a Number and People Need to Get Over It
American icon and eternal Golden Girl Betty White is at it again, teaming up with AARP to urge Americans worried about getting older to "Get Over It." As feisty as ever, she stars in a new campaign - including broadcast ads and online videos - that encourages people to get rid of obsolete stereotypes about aging and laugh along the way.
Main Content
White's ascension to becoming a cultural institution - winning six Emmy's through breakthrough roles on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and even Saturday Night Live, all after the age of 50 - offers living proof that age shouldn't define who you are.
"Turning 50 and joining AARP can be the start of a great new part of your life," said White. "It doesn't mean you're getting old. I think age is what you make of it just look at me! I'm going to hang out as long as anybody will pay attention."
"Betty truly embodies what we've been hearing from our members for years: that age is just a number," said Steve Cone, Executive Vice President, AARP. "She's embracing her age and defying stereotypes and limitations often associated with the number of candles on your birthday cake. We think that's something that will resonate with our members and all Americans 50+, and we couldn't be happier to work with her to break through the mis-perceptions that keep people from taking advantage of all that AARP offers."
AARP's "Get Over It" campaign launched with the debut of various national TV ads. The new campaign uses White's unique humor in a way that will inform and delight consumers through online, print and other direct channels, in addition to television.
Added White:
"I was just getting warm when I was 50. Now I'm hot, in Cleveland. I'm not done, and probably neither are you, and AARP can help us get to what's next."
The "Get Over It" campaign promotional materials, exclusive interviews, videos and stories with Betty White, can be accessed for review and download at AARP's Website.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The partnership between Betty White and AARP represents more than celebrity marketing - it tackles a persistent barrier facing older Americans and people aging with disabilities. When someone who achieved her greatest professional successes after 50 tells you to "get over it," the message carries weight precisely because she lived it. This campaign arrived at a critical moment when boomers were turning 50 in record numbers, many facing ageism in employment, healthcare, and social settings. White's career trajectory offered tangible proof that the second half of life can surpass the first, a message particularly valuable for those managing disabilities alongside aging, who often face compounded stereotypes. Her assertion that she was "just getting warm" at 50 challenges not only age discrimination but also the low expectations society holds for what older adults can achieve and contribute - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by AARP and published on 2011/05/23, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.