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*The following article contains discussion of suicide/self-harm.
Quaden Bayles, an eleven-year-old Indigenous boy from Australia who had been bullied for his dwarfism—called achondroplasia—was cast in an upcoming Mad Max film alongside Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke.
Oscar-winning director George Miller cast the boy in a small role in Furiosa, the prequel to 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road.
The filmmaker was heartbroken after watching a viral video of Balyes crying and wishing to take his own life due to bullying.
\u201cAfter going viral in 2020 for the bullying he faced at school, Quaden Bayles landed roles in two George Miller movies: 'Three Thousand Years of Longing' and 'Furiosa'. https://t.co/CxODwfI9a8\u201d— Entertainment Weekly (@Entertainment Weekly) 1661197209
Miller—who already cast Bayles in his next film Three Thousand Years alongside Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton—told the Sydney Morning Herald :
"It was good for us and it was good for him."
"And he did such a good job that he's got a small role in Furiosa."
\u201c@CNN Awesome!\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1661176816
\u201c@CNN Good for him.\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1661176816
\u201cWay to go, Quaden Bayles. With your handsome smile, I know that you'll light up the movie screen! https://t.co/1hqPvrBEnd via @CNN\u201d— Getting Past Childhood Bullying (@Getting Past Childhood Bullying) 1661184433
\u201c@cnni @jaketapper Congratulations to you. I am sure you will love being an actor. Good luck to you. God Bless You Quaden Bayles. \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\ude07\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffb\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— CNN International (@CNN International) 1661175154
In 2020, Bayles' mother Yarraka Bayles posted the clip of her son crying.
It showed a then 9-year-old Quaden sobbing in the backseat of her car and asking for a knife to kill himself. The video was live streamed on Facebook to show how much being tormented for his dwarfism was affecting her son.
Yarraka Bayles said:
"This is what bullying does."
She pleaded with viewers:
"Can you please educate your children, your families, your friends?"
Millions of social media users supported Bayles and sent messages of love–including celebrities like Hugh Jackman who told Bayles in a special video message:
"Quaden, you are stronger than you know, mate. Everyone, let's just please be kind to each other."
"Bullying is not OK, period."
\u201cQuaden - you\u2019ve got a friend in me. #BeKind @LokelaniHiga\u201d— Hugh Jackman (@Hugh Jackman) 1582221132
Comedian Brad Williams also showed support by setting up a GoFundMe page for Bayles and raised half a million dollars.
Williams used part of the money to send Bayles and his mother to Disneyland in Anaheim, California and donated the rest to anti-bullying charities.
On the campaign's page, Williams wrote:
"This isn't just for Quaden, this is for anyone who has been bullied in their lives and told they weren't good enough."
"Let's show Quaden and others that there is good in the world and they are worthy of it."
The National Rugby League's Indigenous All-Stars team also sent Bayles some love.
Indigenous All-Stars fullback Latrell Mitchell said:
"Just want to wish you all the best brother. We know you're going through a hard time right now but the boys are here, we've got your back."
"We're here to support you, bud."
\u201cThe Indigenous #NRLAllStars are behind you Quaden! \ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffd\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— NRL (@NRL) 1582168877
It's wonderful to see good things continue to come Quaden Bayles way.
Who knows, maybe a life in Hollywood is in his future.
***
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
To find help outside the United States, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has resources available at https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/