Bully Victim Quaden Bayles Leads Out Indigenous All Stars Team
"We know you're going through a hard time right now, but the boys are here, and we've got your back."
Quaden Bayles, the kid in a video that captured worldwide attention after he was bullied for dwarfism, led out the Indigenous All Stars in their NRL match against the Maori All Stars.
The team released a video a few days ago reaching out to Quaden, and letting him know they wanted him to bring them onto the field. Fullback Latrell Mitchell, who plays for the Rabbitohs usually, sent a lovely message to Quaden in the video. “We know you’re going through a hard time right now, but the boys are here, and we’ve got your back.”
The Indigenous #NRLAllStars are behind you Quaden! 👊🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/52RLy8SrSd
— NRL (@NRL) February 20, 2020
Quaden brought the team onto the field holding the hand of captain Joel Thompson, wearing headphones to protect from the noise of the thousands of fans. It was a special moment for Quaden, who is Indigenous, and who would reportedly love to be a professional rugby league player when he grows up.
Quaden leads out the Indigenous all stars 👏 #NRLAllStars pic.twitter.com/tJpJt2cdG6
— NRL (@NRL) February 22, 2020
The moment comes after rapper Cardi B took to Instagram to defend Quaden from nasty and unsubstantiated speculation by a small section of people online that he is actually 18-years-old and not 9. “I really don’t think that he’s lying on his age. And just because there’s video of him flossing money and acting all gangster and acting all cool, it doesn’t mean that kids do not pick on him.”
Cardi b speaking facts regarding to the speculation surrounding Quaden Bayles. Y’all act like Lil esco ETC don’t flex on da gram, he’s an inspiring actor hello just bc his mom owns a catering company(has money) doesn’t mean his feelings shouldn’t be validated when bullied pic.twitter.com/0p18KL3Gm3
— 𝕃𝕖𝕖 (@xxenahThee) February 22, 2020
The backlash has come after US comedian Brad Williams set up a GoFundMe to send Quaden and his family to Disneyland, and trolls started pouring through Quaden’s past. They’ve set up fake social media accounts, trying to cause speculation that he is older than claimed, which is easily disproven.
Stop spreading false information saying, "He's 18." Quaden Bayles is not 18. In 2015 he was on a morning show – visibly 4 years old. It is now 2020 and mathematically, he would be 9 years old. #QuadenBayles https://t.co/C2SyBdhXHt
— Isabella Steele 💙 (@MsBellaSteele) February 21, 2020
The age speculation is an unfortunate dark spot on what is otherwise a nice story about most people getting behind a struggling little kid.
I hope all the fuckwits who attempted to slur a 9yo Aboriginal boy with a disability because they were too racist and ableist to deal with so much goodwill feel really fucking proud of themselves today. Dickheads. #istandwithquaden
— Celeste Liddle (@Utopiana) February 22, 2020
But hopefully with moments like Quaden had with the All Stars team last night, and with people like Cardi B speaking publicly, he is still feeling extremely supported and loved.