Yarraka Bayles from Queensland, Australia, recently shared a video of her nine-year-old son, Quaden Bayles, that has gone viral. Quaden was filmed talking about getting bullied for having achondroplasia, a type of dwarfish.
“I’ve just picked my son up from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal, and I want people to know – parents, educators, teachers – this is the effect that bullying has,” Bayles said in the video. She adds, “All it takes is for one more instant. You wonder why kids are killing themselves.” In between her talking, Quaden can be heard saying, “I just want to die right now. Give me a knife I want to kill myself.” Yarraka also mentions in the video that she often has to deal with Quaden having suicidal thoughts.
Since the videos posted, it has gotten over 21 million views and 350,000 shares. A GoFundMe page has also been set up for Quaden, and it has raised over $250,000. The post has even gotten attention from various celebrities, including Josh Gad, Mark Hamill, and Hugh Jackman. “No matter what, you’ve got a friend in me,” Jackman said on Twitter. “Quaden, you are stronger than you know, mate. Everyone, let’s just please be kind to each other. Bullying is not OK, period.”