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The Australian boy brutalized for his size has celebrated his birthday while enjoying life as a Hollywood star.
A beaming Quaden Bayles turned 12 on Wednesday and is thriving as a movie star and influencer, just two years after being bullied so badly he wanted to die.
On Wednesday his mother, Yarraka Bayles, whose original heartbreaking video of her broken son catapulted him to fame, proudly posted touching new photos of him looking happy and carefree.
“I can’t believe my baby is 12 and going to high school next month,” Ms. Bayles wrote.
A beaming Quaden Bayles turned 12 on Wednesday and is thriving as a movie star and influencer just two years after being bullied so badly he wanted to die.
Yarraka Bayles’ now-famous video of her son’s harrowing response to bullying catapulted the boy to fame.
He unwittingly became an online star after Ms Bayles posted a distressing video online in early 2020 of him sobbing and asking for a “rope” to commit suicide after being bullied at school.
In the video, which has been viewed more than three million times, Quaden also said: “I just want to stab myself in the heart…I want someone to kill me.”
American comedian Brad Williams, who also has dwarfism, soon created an online fundraiser, “Let’s send a wonderful boy to Disneyland.”
But her family surprised fans by turning down the trip, saying they would prefer the money be donated to charities to help combat bullying and suicide.
More than 20,000 donors from around the world flocked to donate $723,000 (US$474,000) to give Quaden’s family a special gift.
‘We want the money to go to community organizations that really need it. They know where the money should be spent.
Quaden’s appearance is the result of a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia.
He was then trolled again for the video, falsely accused of being an 18-year-old actor who had lied about his age as part of a scam to raise money.
In truth, Quaden was just nine years old and an elementary school student when his mother posted the heartbreaking video.
Quaden Bayles attended the red carpet opening of Three Thousand Years of Longing surrounded by family and friends
Quaden Bayles turned 12, is about to star in a major movie, and is ready to start high school.
She clarified that she posted the video of her son in an effort to raise awareness about the life-threatening impacts of bullying.
‘Can they educate their children, their families, their friends? Because all it takes is one more instance… and you wonder why kids are killing themselves,” Yarraka Bayles said in the viral clip.
What started out as a terrifying episode exposing cruelty on multiple levels ultimately turned into Quaden living his best life.
Living your best life! According to Instagram Money Calculator, Quaden could earn up to $2,600 per sponsored post
Quaden has recently been photographed hobnobbing with other famous Australians including rapper The Kid Laroi (left) and South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell (right).
Google announced in December 2020 that Quaden was their ‘Top Trending Kid’ of the Year, leading to success as an influencer and earning him thousands of dollars from sponsored posts.
Between his and his mother Ms. Bayles’ Instagram accounts, 324,000 people now follow Quaden’s moving journey.
According to the Instagram Money Calculator, Quaden could earn up to $2,600 per sponsored post on Instagram.
Celebrities lined up to support Quaden, including NRL star Latrell Mitchell, Hugh Jackman, pop phenoms The Kid Laroi and Cardi B, Married at First Sight star Jessika Power and legendary film director George Miller.
In August 2022, Miller announced that he would be casting Quaden for the latest installment in his Mad Max franchise, Furiosa.
She turned heads walking the Three Thousand Years of Longing red carpet wearing a sleek navy blue Calvin Klein suit and white sneakers.
The film will be released in 2024.
But Quaden has already appeared in big movies. He also landed a minor role in Miller’s 2022 fantasy film Three Thousand Years of Longing, appearing as the quick change guy.
He now has an agent and is listed on the Chic Talent website as an actor.
‘You’re stronger than you think’: The video caught the attention of celebrities, including Hugh Jackman (pictured), who supported Quaden