“Quaden Bayles, an indigenous Australian boy who won the support of celebrities and well-wishers around the globe after being bullied because of his disability, has landed a role in the new “Mad Max” movie,” CNN reported.
“Oscar-winning director George Miller has cast the now 11-year-old in a small role in the movie ‘Furiosa,’ a prequel to his 2015 post-apocalyptic blockbuster ‘Mad Max: Fury Road.’”
In his latest interview with Good Weekend magazine, George revealed that he cast Bayles in his new movie because he was moved by the heartbreaking video shared by Bayles’s mother in February 2020.
“It was good for us and it was good for him,” said Miller. “And he did such a good job that he’s got a small role in Furiosa.”
In the viral video, Quaden was shown bitterly crying in the backseat of his mother’s car, and then he asked his mom to give him a knife so that he could kill himself.
“This is what bullying does,” his mother, Yarraka Bayles, live-streamed the video on her Facebook account and shared her son’s story with people. “Can you please educate your children, families, and friends?”
Yarraka’s video received more than 25 million on Facebook. Later, it became viral on all social media platforms, where thousands of people spoke up for Bayles and showed their love and support.
His video also reached famous Australian actor Hugh Jackman, and he posted a video message on his official Twitter account for Bayles.
“No matter what, you’ve got a friend in me. Quaden, you are stronger than you know, mate. Everyone, let’s just please be kind to each other. Bullying is not OK, period.” Jackman said in his video clip.
Stand-up comedian Brad Williams also reached out to Quaden and even set up a GoFundMe in his name to help him visit Disneyland.
“I’m setting up this GoFundMe to let Quaden know that bullying will not be tolerated and that he is a wonderful human being who deserves joy. I want to fly Quaden and his mother to America, get them a nice hotel and bring them to Disneyland,” Williams wrote in the description.
His GoFundMe raised more than $457,840.
According to News.com.au, Quaden was only three years old when he was diagnosed with Achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism.
“According to the National Institutes of Health, the average height of an adult male with achondroplasia is 4 feet, 4 inches.” Insider reported.
“We are losing way too many people because of bullying, discrimination, and racism. There are so many factors of bullying,” Yarraka Bayles said in an interview with the BBC.
“On top of that, being an aboriginal boy with a disability, people don’t understand that’s a double-edged sword. There’s racism, and then there’s discrimination because of the disability.”
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Sources: CNN – BBC – Insider – Good Weekend
