Queensland: Quaden Bayles, the 9-year-old who went viral on social media recently after he was bullied by some of his peers, has now got the support of millions online, including Wolverine star Hug Jackman and comedian Brad Williams.
It can be recalled that, a few days ago, Yarraka Bayles, Quaden’s mother posted a video of the boy, crying uncontrollably and pleading for death. In the video, Yarraka said that she was posting the video to spread awareness about what bullying does to children. She said that her son, who has dwarfism, has been suicidal and has even attempted suicide because he is constantly bullied for his height.
Yarraka asked people to “educate yourselves, educate your families, educate your children” about bullying and what it does.
The video resonated with people all over the world who expressed their solidarity with Quaden and his family.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman also joined team-Quaden and posted a video expressing his support with the caption, “Quaden – you’ve got a friend in me.”
“Quaden, yea are stronger than you know, mate. Everyone, let’s just please be kind to each other. Bullying is not OK, period,” the actor says in the video.
Quaden – you’ve got a friend in me. #BeKind @LokelaniHiga https://t.co/8dr3j2z8Sy pic.twitter.com/jyqtZYC953
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) February 20, 2020
Comedian Brad Williams, who, like Quaden, was also born with the condition called achondroplasia dwarfism, started a Go-Fund Me page to raise money to send Quaden and his mother to Disneyland in California.
“I’ve set up a GoFundMe to send brave Quaden and his mother to Disneyland. Let’s show a bullied kid that he is loved!” Williams tweeted on February 20.
“This isn’t just for Quaden, this is for anyone who has been bullied in their lives and told they weren’t good enough,” Williams said on the fundraising page. “Let’s show Quaden and others that there is good in the world and they are worthy of it.”
According to Williams’ latest post, the page has raised over $250,000.
In a series of tweets, Williams said that he hopes to throw a spotlight on the “negative effects of bullying so parents and children can learn from this. We can be better.”
Thanking the donors, he wrote, “Money donated will not be wasted! We have a team of people making sure everything is completely legitimate. We thank you for your generosity and patience while we make sure all this is done the right way.”
