The Australian boy viciously bullied over his size has celebrated his birthday as he enjoys 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 he was bullied so badly he wanted to die.
On Wednesday, his mum Yarraka Bayles, whose original heartbreaking video of her shattered son catapulted him to fame, proudly posted heartwarming new photos of him looking happy and worry-free.
‘Can’t believe my baby boy is 12 years old and off 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 he was bulled so badly he wanted to die
Yarraka Bayles’ now famous video of her son’s distressing response to bullying catapulted the boy to fame
He unintentionally became an online star after Ms Bayles posted a distressing video online in early 2020 of him sobbing and asking for ‘rope’ to kill himself 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.’
An online fundraiser, ‘Let’s send a wonderful kid to Disneyland’, was soon set up by US comedian Brad Williams, who also has dwarfism.
But his family stunned fans by turning down the trip – saying they would rather the money be given to charity to help combat bullying and suicide.
More than 20,000 donors from across the world flocked to give $723,000 (US $474,000) to give Quaden’s family the special treat.
‘We want the money to go to community organisations that really need it. They know what the money should be spent on.
Quaden’s appearance is a result of a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia.
He was then trolled again over the video, being 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 a primary school student, when his mum posted the heartbreaking video.
Quaden Bayles attended the red carpet opening of Three Thousand years of Longing surrounded by family and friends
Quaden Bayles has turned 12, is about to star in a major movie and is set 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 you please educate your children, your families, your 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 began as a frightening episode exposing cruelty on multiple levels eventually turned into Quaden living his best life.
Living his best life! According to Instagram Money Calculator , Quaden could be making up to $2,600 per sponsored post
Quaden has recently been pictured rubbing shoulders with other famous Aussies like rapper The Kid Laroi (left) and South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell (right)
Google announced in December 2020 that Quaden was its ‘top trending kid’ for the year, sparking success as an influencer and earning him thousands of dollars for sponsored posts.
Between his and his mum Ms Bayles’ Instagram accounts 324,000 people now follow Quaden’s heartwarming journey.
According to Instagram Money Calculator, Quaden could be making up to $2,600 per sponsored post on Instagram.
Celebrities lined up to support Quaden, including NRL star Latrell Mitchell, Hugh Jackman, pop phenomenons The Kid Laroi and Cardi B, Married at First Sight star Jessika Power and legendary movie director George Miller.
In August 2022 Miller announced he would cast Quaden in the latest instalment of his Mad Max franchise, Furiosa.
He turned heads walking the red carpet for Three Thousand Years of Longing wearing a smart navy-blue Calvin Klein suit and white sneakers.
The movie is due to be released in 2024.
But Quaden has already appeared in big films. He also scored a minor role in Miller’s 2022 fantasy film Three Thousand years of Longing, appearing as the quick change boy.
He now has an agent and is listed on Chic Talent’s website as an actor.
‘You’re stronger than you know’: The video caught the attention of celebrities including Hugh Jackman (pictured) who threw their support behind Quaden
