The on-screen superhero became a real-life superhero for a kid who was saddened because his friends and teachers didn’t sign his yearbook.
American Actor and filmmaker Paul Rudd gave a sweet surprise to a middle school kid who was heartbroken because his classmates wouldn’t sign his yearbook.
Brody Ridder, a 12-year-old boy, came home with a broken heart. When his mother, Cassandra Cooper, asked him about what happened, he told her that only two students and two teachers had signed his new yearbook in school. Everybody else completely ignored him even though he asked over and again.
The mother opened his yearbook and saw it had one more signature – from Brody himself – who wrote, “Hope you make some more friends.”
Cassandra was devastated to see her son like that and decided to share the matter on social media. She wrote a heart-touching post on Facebook and a picture of Brody’s empty yearbook.
“My poor son. Doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better. 2 teachers and a total of 2 students wrote in his yearbook.”
“Despite Brody asking all kinds of kids to sign it. So Brody took it upon himself to write to himself. My heart is shattered. Teach your kids kindness,” she wrote.
Her post went viral on Facebook, and many parents and students from Brody’s school read it. The very next day, a group of students at his school surprised him in class; they all wanted to sign his yearbook.
According to The Washington Post, Cassandra revealed that her son had been made fun of in his school.
“There’s kids that have pushed him and called him names. Brody has been through a lot,” she told the outlet
“Although the intimidation somewhat subsided after I addressed her concerns with school administrators in February, I could tell “the teasing was still there,” Ridder said.
A day later, Cassandra posted a video revealing that her post reached the superstar, and he FaceTimed her son after being moved by Brody’s story.
“Something AMAZING happened today!!!! Brody got to talk to Paul Rudd! ANT-MAN!!!! Like this this real life?! Pinch me now! Brody was so excited! I wanted to share a clip of their call!” she exclaimed in her new post.
“Shout out to Paul Rudd, and his sister Mandi for reaching out and setting this up! You truly made Brody so happy! My heart is so full right now!” she said.
The post included a video showing Paul talking to Brody,
“I heard about you and I was like, I’ve gotta talk to this kid, cause he seems like my kind of guy.” He said to the 12-year-old.
Daily Mail wrote that Paul sent over a package with a hand-written note and a personally-signed Ant-Man helmet a few days after the call.
“Dear Brody, it was great talking to you the other day. It’s important to remember that even when life is tough, things get better.” The note began.
“There are so many people who love you and think you’re the coolest kid there is – me being one of them!”
“I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’re going to accomplish. Your pal, Paul.”
He also signed the Ant-Man helmet, ‘To my good friend Brody when he takes on the world!’
Ever since the yearbook scene, Ridder and his mother have received dozens of letters from kids around the country, and the duo has also been invited by the cast of Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen to watch a show and sign his yearbook.
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I have tears rolling down my face from reading this. My son, now 18, was relentlessly bullied for pretty much all of school. I talked to every principal, to no avail. He stopped telling me because he knew I would march up to the school. After seventh grade, he begged me to do online school. Only then did he tell me of the trauma he endured. He still won’t tell me everything. It breaks my heart that Brody has gone through this; school should be a safe haven for children. Instead, so many kids go to school in fear! It’s disgusting! Paul Rudd, you are a true gem.