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An Australian mother is unleashed by the brutal bullies who attack her son for being in a wheelchair: “We have adults who criticize him”
- Officeworks removed an ad after people left mean comments
- The back-to-school ad featured Year Nine student Cooper
- Commenters made fun of Cooper’s hair and wheelchair.
- His devastated mother shared her response to the comments.
A heartbroken mother has called out cruel internet ‘trolls’ who mocked her son’s haircut and wheelchair after he was featured in an Officeworks ad.
The mother messaged Australian journalist and podcaster Jacqueline Felgate after seeing the horrifying response to her son Cooper’s ad, shared by Officeworks on Facebook earlier this month.
“(It’s) 2023, and instead of people seeing the ad for what it’s really about, we have adults commenting on her hair and wheelchair,” the mom wrote.
“I had to laugh when someone wrote that he probably wasn’t really a wheelchair user.
“He’s just a kid doing what he loves and he happens to be a wheelchair user.”
Nasty trolls began mocking the teen’s haircut and wheelchair in comments on the Officeworks’ Facebook post.
The devastated mom then went on to explain the challenges Cooper has faced, saying her teenage friends are more understanding than some adults.
“The 15 operations that he lives with do not prevent him from achieving great things,” he said.
“His friends see him for who he is, a hilariously funny and super sporty kid who is great to be around.
“In the meantime, we have adults looking into it.”
Cooper’s devastated mother shared a message (above) saying her son’s teenage friends are more understanding than adults who attack him online.
Australian journalist and podcaster Jacqueline Felgate highlighted the cruel bullying on her Instagram
Commenters on Ms. Felgate’s post turned out in droves to support Cooper and criticized the nasty messages left in the Facebook ad.
I hope Cooper is okay. Internet trolls are the worst,” wrote one person.
“Kindness doesn’t come easy to some,” said another.
‘What’s wrong with people?! Seriously, I’m not sure when it became acceptable to insult and attack people. They are most likely grown adults treating a young man like this,” wrote another.
‘Literally one in two kids at my son’s school has a haircut like this. People can say the meanest things,” wrote one commenter.
A fifth said: ‘I don’t understand why people need to behave this way. Really, really not.
Others wrote that the cruel comments were an example of ableism and applauded Officeworks’ various advertising.
Officeworks said the ad was part of a campaign featuring 13 students and was “designed to support inclusion so that all children can identify and feel represented.”
“We are deeply disappointed to see some negative and hurtful comments on social media in response to our latest back-to-school social media announcement, which features one of our students in a wheelchair,” an Officeworks spokesperson said.
‘Officeworks has zero tolerance for bullying and anti-social behaviour.
Offensive comments have been and will continue to be removed in accordance with our online community management policy.
“With the support of the family involved, our campaign will continue to promote diversity and inclusion in our community while supporting Australia’s children and families to prepare for the new school year.”