An Australian boy with dwarfism who was bullied to the point he wanted to take his own life has received a deluge of celebrity messages and donations for a trip to Disneyland.
A video of nine-year-old Quaden Bayles uploaded to Facebook by his mother showed him crying and repeatedly saying he wanted to die after being bullied at school.
The clip had been watched more than 16 million times by this morning and his mother, Yarraka Bayles, said she was sharing it to raise awareness of the impact bullying was having on her son.
"I've got a son that is suicidal almost every single day," she says in the footage.
She said she had just picked her son up from school and witnessed a bullying incident.
She said she wanted parents and teachers to know what the effects of bullying are as Quaden cries and says he wants to take his own life.
Support for Quaden built as the video spread online, and a GoFundMe page started by US comedian Brad Williams had raised over $150,000 to give him a trip to Disneyland in California.
I just heard from @FijiAirways. They let me know that they are DONATING plane tickets so Quaden and his Mom can get to Disneyland. Thank you @FijiAirways! I can't stop crying. I promise I will make sure every penny goes to a good cause! https://t.co/vGLHQXzO0K
— Brad Williams (@funnybrad) February 21, 2020
"This isn't just for Quaden, this is for anyone who has been bullied in their lives and told they weren't good enough," Mr Williams, who was also born with achondroplasia - the most common type of dwarfism - wrote on the fundraiser page.
This makes me sick. I've been trying to get in touch with this family. If any of my Austrialian fans know this family. Please tell this wonderful boy that he has me and an army of friends all over the world that support him.
— Brad Williams (@funnybrad) February 20, 2020
https://t.co/C860H7kfkS
Mr Williams said extra funds would be given to anti-bullying charities.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman and NBA player Enes Kanter were among the hundreds of thousands posting support for Bayles.
"Quaden you are stronger than you know, mate. And no matter what, you have a friend in me," Jackman said in a video posted to his Twitter account.
Quaden - you've got a friend in me. #BeKind @LokelaniHiga https://t.co/8dr3j2z8Sy pic.twitter.com/jyqtZYC953
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) February 20, 2020
Bayles will also lead the Indigenous All-Stars out onto the field in their rugby league clash with the Maori All Stars in Queensland tomorrow.
The Indigenous #NRLAllStars are behind you Quaden! 👊🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/52RLy8SrSd
— NRL (@NRL) February 20, 2020