Tennessee Boy's Anti-Bullying Video Goes Viral. Athletes And Celebrities Show Support

December 11, 2017

A Knoxville, Tennessee middle schooler was being bullied so much that he was leaving school early and skipping lunch so that he did not have to face his tormentors.

His mother, Kimberly, took a video of Keaton talking about how other kids poured milk on him, put food on his clothes, and mocked him.

He had one simple question: Why?

"For the record, Keaton asked to do this AFTER he had he me pick him up AGAIN because he was afraid to go to lunch," Kimberly wrote on Facebook. "My kids are by no stretch perfect, & at home, he's as all boy as they come, but by all accounts he's good at school. Talk to your kids. I've even had friends of mine tell me they're kids were only nice to him to get him to mess with people. We all know how it feels to want to belong, but only a select few know how it really feels not to belong anywhere."

The video has been viewed over 15 million times and it's caught the attention of many celebrities.

@DonteStallworth @Lakyn_Jones hopefully my video and the tweets that Keaton have been getting brings awareness to bullying and how serious it is in our school system pic.twitter.com/1Dujv3RxA5

— Delanie walker (@delaniewalker82) December 9, 2017

Stay strong, Keaton. Don’t let them make you turn cold. I promise it gets better. 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? https://t.co/s1QwCQ3toi

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) December 10, 2017

buddy next time I make it home to Knox I'm going to walk into that lunchroom with you and watch the bullies say they are sorry to you. you don't deserve that. keep your head up and continue to be kind...you will always Come out on top. sending a hug. https://t.co/fZn2hbMPKp

— Kelsea Ballerini (@KelseaBallerini) December 10, 2017

This is heartbreaking. But the response of support for him is a beautiful thing. Add me to your long list of friends Keaton. https://t.co/NKasvdo00u

— Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 10, 2017

Keaton, this is so accurate. Why do people do this? I think your sooo cool Keaton! I wanna be your friend ( but srsly) ur freakin awesome ❤️ https://t.co/LD7Q762bL9

— Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebbrown) December 9, 2017

Keaton basically has the entire UFC behind his back, including an invite to the headquarters and free martial arts training.

Meet Keaton Jones a very smart little boy who is being bullied at school. This video is heartbreaking!! I want to bring Keaton to Vegas and hang out at UFC Headquarters. If anyone knows how i can reach the family please let me know. Thank u everyone pic.twitter.com/BR8c4ldDFc

— Dana White (@danawhite) December 10, 2017

In a Facebook post update, Keaton's mom responded to the outpouring of support for her son.

"Friends, overwhelmed is the understatement of the world right now. I love each of you for what you are doing," she said, adding that she could not read or respond to all of the messages and invitations to join groups that had inundated her mailbox since the viral video.

"I'm humbled by the voice my boy has been given, but he's still just a little boy, and he's a little boy who desperately wants acceptance, that I have to try to find a way to navigate him through the difference in true acceptance and attention," she wrote. "I know God has His hand in this and I trust that the right things will happen in the right time. In the meantime, bear with us."