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A video of a Tennessee boy tearfully talking about being bullied at school has gone viral and prompted an outpouring of support from Hollywood celebrities, music stars and athletes.
Keaton Jones's mother posted the video on Facebook Friday, writing that her son asked to make it after she had to pick him up from school because he was afraid to go to lunch.
It has since been viewed 22 million times and shared more than 440,000 times.
Keaton Jones gives a tearful speech in the video.
"Just out of curiosity, why do they bully? What's the point of it? Why do you find joy in taking innocent people and finding a way to be mean to 'em? It's not OK," Jones says in the video.
"They make fun of my nose, they call me ugly, they say I have no friends... [they] pour milk on me and put ham down my clothes, threw bread at me," he says.
"I don't like that they do it to me and I for sure don't like that they do it to other people, 'cause it's not OK," Jones says with tears on his face.
"People that are different don't need to be criticized about it - it's not their fault. But if you are made fun of, just don't let it bother you - just stay strong," he says, adding: "It'll probably get better one day." That day may have come sooner than he expected.
Outpouring support from celebrities
Chris Evans, the actor who plays Captain America, invited Jones to the premiere of the next Avengers film.
"Stay strong, Keaton. Don't let them make you turn cold. I promise it gets better," Evans wrote on Twitter. "While those punks at your school are deciding what kind of people they want to be in this world, how would you and your mom like to come to the Avengers premiere in LA next year?"
"Why do people do this? I think your sooo cool Keaton! I wanna be your friend ( but srsly) ur freakin awesome," tweeted Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven on the hit series "Stranger Things."
Rapper Snoop Dogg encouraged Jones to get in touch with him by direct message. "Say lil Man U gotta friend in me for life hit me on dm so we can chop it up love is the only way to beat hate," he wrote in an Instagram post.
"Keaton-Don't waste time wondering why a bully would be so mean-They're sad people who think hurting others will make them feel better because they really don't like themselves," tweeted Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker in the blockbuster space saga "Star Wars."
And Delanie Walker, who plays tight end for the Tennessee Titans, posted a video on Twitter in which he invited Jones and his family to the football team's game on December 31.
The response has been overwhelming for Jones's mother Kimberly.
"Friends, overwhelmed is the understatement of the world right now. I love each of you for what you are doing, but there is literally no way I can respond or even read all of the messages," she wrote in a follow-up post.
The video and other posts are no longer visible on her Facebook page.
Growing concern in China
School bullying is not something new. However, the number of reported cases has been increasing in China in recent years.
Videos of teenagers bullying classmates have become social media sensations and make headlines frequently.
Nearly 1,200 people were arrested for bullying in January to November of 2016, according to the country's top procuratorate.
Stats from northwest China's Shaanxi Province showed that almost half of local juveniles have suffered or conducted school bullying.
Meanwhile, school bullying has shown some new characteristics, such as the involvement of the Internet and social media in the violence.
Prosecutor gives lecture in a primary school about school bullying in Hubei Province.
China's Supreme People's Procuratorate have been making efforts in tackling school bullying by offering judicial aids and psychological counseling.
They have also cracked down on bars, cyber cafes and karaokes which provide illegal services to underage patrons around the campuses, in an attempt to uproot the environment that might breed school bullying or violence.
(AFP)
