This story is so heartbreaking… but the response has been so powerful and inspiring, too!
We first reported Thursday night on the story of Quaden Bayles, a 9-year-old Australian boy born with a genetic condition called Achondroplasia, which causes dwarfism. Bayles was being bullied so badly at school that he was having suicidal thoughts at nine years old. What a horrifying, traumatic thing to go through at any age… let alone as an innocent child!!!
Related: Hailey Bieber Opens Up About Social Media Bullying
As you’ll no doubt recall from our earlier reporting, Bayles’ mother Yarraka recorded a heartbreaking video of the crying young boy asking for a knife, and saying he wanted to kill himself after another tough day at school. That video (below) quickly made its way around the world and touched the hearts of millions of people horrified that a child so young would be experiencing something so awful:
We’re seriously heartbroken watching that. Ugh…
Thankfully, as Quaden’s message made its way across social media, celebs started to pick it up and run with it. Hugh Jackman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Megyn Kelly and other high-profile stars and public figures all responded with messages of their own, imploring Quaden to keep his head up and stay strong.
Taken all together, it was quite the inspiring rally around the young man!
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Hugh Jackman
Jackman, for one, told his fellow Australian “you’ve got a friend in me” in a Twitter message, and added this in a video response:
“Quaden – You are stronger than you know. And no matter what, you’ve got a friend in me. Everyone let’s be kind to each other. Bullying is not OK. Period. Life is hard enough. So let’s just remember: Every person in front of us is facing some kind of battle.”
Well said!
You can see more here:
Quaden – you’ve got a friend in me. #BeKind @LokelaniHiga https://t.co/8dr3j2z8Sy pic.twitter.com/jyqtZYC953
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) February 20, 2020
Very powerful stuff… and a very important message!
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Morgan, from The Walking Dead and plenty of other good television shows over the last decade, said he knows from his own personal experience as a dad how “kids can be horrible.” He added more in his own video response to Quaden, too, saying:
“What I want you to know is that you have friends, me included. I am your buddy. You have a bunch of friends out here, out in the world that you haven’t met yet. We’re here, we got your back. You need to know that. It’ll get better.”
Awww! That’s a very cute message!
You can see more of his response with it in the clip (below):
— Jeffrey Dean Morgan (@JDMorgan) February 20, 2020
Well said, Mr. Morgan!
Megyn Kelly
The former Fox News host shared an article about the video and its aftermath on Twitter, and also posted a message to her followers imploring them to be nicer to each other. The TV talker tweeted:
“Pls, please, stop with the cruelty. Kindness. Love. Friendship. Understanding. What else matters? Pls, teach your children what bullying does to its targets. What kind of people do we want to be?”
Amen to that!
Eric Trump
Eric Trump — yes, the son of you-know-who — even got into the mix with this one. The President’s offspring was clearly moved by Quaden’s story, and offered his own tweet of support after watching the video, writing:
“This is absolutely heartbreaking. God bless this little boy… Quaden – we are all with you! Stay strong! #TeamQuaden”
#TeamQuaden, indeed!
Of course, it’s a little ironic that somebody related to Donald Trump would take a stand against bullying (right, Melania?!) but hey, whatever works to get more people to support Quaden, we suppose!
Vincent D’Onofrio
Longtime Law and Order: Criminal Intent star Vincent D’Onofrio shared his own long, intense Twitter message with the young boy after watching the video, as well. Noting that he used Quaden’s story as a teaching tool for his own children, D’Onofrio said:
“Hey there son, much love to you and your family. Stay strong. You’re an example to all, every one of us out in the world. You live this life you have. You can live it strong and happy. Myself and my children have gained strength from u. U are so powerful to me. YOU ARE A GIANT AMONG MEN.”
Wow. That just kept escalating, didn’t it? Very, uh, very powerful…
Piers Morgan
Controversial TV host Piers Morgan weighed in on the matter, tweeting his own support:
“Wow. This is heartbreaking. Poor little guy. Hope he gets all the support he needs and deserves.”
Indeed!
The GoFundMe!
Speaking of support, as we noted yesterday, there is a GoFundMe campaign circulating to help send Bayles and his mother to Disneyland in SoCal; if you choose, you can donate HERE.
Originally started by comedian Brad Williams — who was born with the same condition Quaden has, achondroplasia — the GoFundMe has waaaaaaaaay surpassed its $10,000 goal. Fiji Airways even offered up free round-trip plane tickets to Quaden and his fam, too! What an unbelievably generous act by thousands of donors, from all over the world!!!
What do U think about this story, Perezcious readers?! Quaden’s ordeal is beyond heartbreaking, but to see so many celebs and public figures rally around him during his time of need, too… well, it’s at least a bit inspiring to know there are good people in the world, ya know?!
[Image via Brian To/Ivan Nikolov/WENN]
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