Famous names from the world of politics, sport and entertainment have rallied around a nine-year-old boy with dwarfism after a video of him in tears about being bullied went viral.
Brisbane youngster Quaden Bayles rose to international attention on Wednesday after his mother Yarraka filmed her son saying he wanted to kill himself.
A global outpouring of support followed Ms Bayles’ Facebook post, which included Quaden being invited to lead the teams out onto the field for Saturday’s Indigenous All Stars rugby league exhibition game.
A video of nine-year-old Brisbane boy Quaden Bayles tearfully telling his mother he wanted to kill himself has prompted famous names from around the world to show their support for the youngster
![Quaden is pictured with NRL legend Johnathan Thurston. The young boy was invited to lead the teams out onto the field for Saturday's Indigenous All Stars rugby league exhibition game.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/22/25099186-8035651-Quaden_is_pictured_with_NRL_legend_Johnathan_Thurston_The_young_-a-5_1582497892500.jpg)
Quaden is pictured with NRL legend Johnathan Thurston. The young boy was invited to lead the teams out onto the field for Saturday’s Indigenous All Stars rugby league exhibition game.
![The son of US president Donald Trump Eric tweeted his support for Quaden after the video went viral](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/23/25099116-8035651-The_son_of_US_president_Donald_Trump_Eric_tweeted_his_support_fo-a-5_1582499862280.jpg)
The son of US president Donald Trump Eric tweeted his support for Quaden after the video went viral
US president Donald Trump’s son Eric has also spoken out about the video as an online fundraiser raised more than $466,000 to take the young boy to Disneyland.
‘This is absolutely heartbreaking. God bless this little boy… Quaden – we are all with you! Stay strong!,’ Eric Trump wrote on Twitter on Friday.
Australian world champion boxer Billy Dib meanwhile revealed he had spoken to Quaden by FaceTime video call and offered to give him some free training sessions.
Dib shared a picture of the youngster wearing a Boston Celtics basketball jersey on Instagram alongside the words ‘we stand with Quaden’.
The nine-year-old’s teary-eyed video has also attracted the attention of NBA player and Celtics star Enes Kanter.
‘This is one of the hardest video I’ve watched,’ he wrote.
![NBA star Enes Kanter told his followers the video of Quaden was 'one of the hardest videos I've watched'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/22/25099114-8035651-NBA_star_Enes_Kanter_told_his_followers_the_video_of_Quaden_was_-a-6_1582497892503.jpg)
NBA star Enes Kanter told his followers the video of Quaden was ‘one of the hardest videos I’ve watched’
![Australian world champion boxer Billy Dib shared his support, as well as offering free training sessions for the youngster](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/23/25099456-8035651-Australian_world_champion_boxer_Billy_Dib_shared_his_support_as_-a-4_1582499862056.jpg)
Australian world champion boxer Billy Dib shared his support, as well as offering free training sessions for the youngster
Australian actor Hugh Jackman released a powerful message to Quaden’s bullies, saying ‘life is hard enough’ without people going out of their way to upset others.
‘Quaden, you are stronger than you know, mate,’ Hugh said in a video shared with his 14 million Twitter followers.
Comedian Brad Williams and Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis, who both have dwarfism, have also expressed their support.
Williams organised the GoFundMe fundraiser to send Bayles to Disneyland, while Davis said the video was ‘deeply saddening’.
![Online trolls have accused Quaden though of actually being an 18-year-old man. In this photo, they claimed he was drinking wine - but had subtly cropped out the Appletiser next to him on the table](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/22/25070604-8035651-Online_trolls_have_accused_Quaden_though_of_actually_being_an_18-a-2_1582497891316.jpg)
Online trolls have accused Quaden though of actually being an 18-year-old man. In this photo, they claimed he was drinking wine – but had subtly cropped out the Appletiser next to him on the table
![One account retweeted false posts claiming Quaden was actually an 18-year-old man, and not a nine-year-old primary school student](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/22/25042508-8035651-One_account_retweeted_false_posts_claiming_Quaden_was_actually_a-a-3_1582497891317.jpg)
One account retweeted false posts claiming Quaden was actually an 18-year-old man, and not a nine-year-old primary school student
![Quaden (pictured far left) was actually attending the 18th birthday celebrations of a friend called Garlen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/22/25070628-8035651-Quaden_pictured_far_left_was_actually_attending_the_18th_birthda-a-1_1582497890686.jpg)
Quaden (pictured far left) was actually attending the 18th birthday celebrations of a friend called Garlen
‘Wow. This is heartbreaking,’ British broadcaster Piers Morgan said. ‘Poor little guy. Hope he gets all the support he needs and deserves.’
The global praise for Quaden has been joined though by hurtful rumours spread online claiming the Brisbane boy is already an adult.
One post circulating on Twitter said his high-profile Instagram page and lucrative modelling career were proof he ‘scammed everybody’.
The accuser also pointed to a photo of Quaden at an 18th birthday party, saying the celebrations were for him.
![Quaden was also seen playing with toys when he appeared on television as a four-year-old in 2015](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/22/25070602-8035651-Quaden_was_also_seen_playing_with_toys_when_he_appeared_on_telev-a-8_1582497892585.jpg)
Quaden was also seen playing with toys when he appeared on television as a four-year-old in 2015
![Looking further back, Yarraka Bayles celebrated Quaden turning 16 days old in December 2010](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/23/25070658-8035651-Looking_further_back_Yarraka_Bayles_celebrated_Quaden_turning_16-a-3_1582499861794.jpg)
Looking further back, Yarraka Bayles celebrated Quaden turning 16 days old in December 2010
Yarraka Bayles hit out at the claims as they gathered pace on social media, sharing a post from someone who said they knew Quaden from before his viral video.
‘He’s nine! Dwarfism is not a joke, is he a model or actor?’ the Facebook post read.
‘So are a lot of kids… That doesn’t mean s**t!’
Others have also jumped to Quaden’s defence over the birthday post, saying he was actually attending the 18th birthday celebrations of a friend.
A photo of Quaden posing with his pals in an Instagram post on January 18, which he captioned ‘happy 18th ma bah’ appears to support this claim.
One Instagram photo of the nine-year-old had meanwhile been subtly cropped by his accusers showing him appearing to drink wine with his mother.
In fact, a bottle of Appletiser was sitting on a table next to him – proving his beverage was sparkling apple juice.
The young boy’s modelling success and strong Instagram following has also raised doubts about his age.
On Saturday, both his and his mother’s profiles on the platform were deleted.
His profile on Star Now says he is eight-years-old though, with beginner modelling experience.
Quaden has also appeared on television as a four-year-old, sitting on his mother’s lap playing with toys in an interview with Studio 10.
Looking further back, Yarraka Bayles shared a picture of her son’s sixth birthday cake in December 2016 and in 2010 celebrated Quaden turning 16 days old.
![A fundraiser to send Quaden Bayles to Disneyland has reached $460,000 after being set up by comedian Brad Williams - who also has dwarfism](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/22/23/25071508-8033163-image-a-3_1582415018394.jpg)
A fundraiser to send Quaden Bayles to Disneyland has reached $460,000 after being set up by comedian Brad Williams – who also has dwarfism
![On Saturday, Quaden's Instagram account 'Quadosss' warned his 226,000 followers that fake social media accounts (left) claiming to be him and trying to take advantage of his situation were being created](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/21/25041896-0-On_Saturday_Quaden_s_Instagram_account_Quadosss_warned_his_226_0-a-2_1582492127872.jpg)
On Saturday, Quaden’s Instagram account ‘Quadosss’ warned his 226,000 followers that fake social media accounts (left) claiming to be him and trying to take advantage of his situation were being created
![Quaden Bayles' Instagram account 'Quadosss' warned his 226,000 followers that fake accounts were being created in a post on Saturday morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/21/23/25041918-8030839-image-a-1_1582327945658.jpg)
Quaden Bayles’ Instagram account ‘Quadosss’ warned his 226,000 followers that fake accounts were being created in a post on Saturday morning
The rumours about his age have been accompanied in recent days by trolls creating social media accounts in an attempt to profit from his bullying.
On Saturday, Quaden’s Instagram account ‘Quadosss’ warned his 226,000 followers fake social media accounts claiming to be him and trying to take advantage of his situation were being created.
‘WARNING!!!! FAKE ACCOUNTS! PLEASE REPORT ASAP!’ Quaden’s account posted to Instagram, along with a screenshot of a fake Twitter account using his name.
![While trolls continue to spread rumours, Quaden (pictured) has received an outpouring of international support, including from Hugh Jackman and comedian Brad Williams](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/23/22/25042828-8035651-While_trolls_continue_to_spread_rumours_Quaden_pictured_has_rece-a-10_1582497892871.jpg)
While trolls continue to spread rumours, Quaden (pictured) has received an outpouring of international support, including from Hugh Jackman and comedian Brad Williams
One of the fake accounts has pictures of Quaden and urges followers to ‘pay my GoFundMe’ and has a link to donate.
Brad Williams created a fundraiser for Quaden after hearing the upsetting news that he was bullied at school.
Money raised will be used to bring Quaden and his mother for a holiday in Disneyland California, while all the excess will be given to anti-bullying charities.
![Joel Thompson, the Indigenous All-Stars captain, leads the team onto the field with nine-year-old Quaden at CBUS stadium on The Gold Coast](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/22/23/25052952-8033163-Joel_Thompson_the_Indigenous_All_Stars_captain_leads_the_team_on-a-1_1582413489086.jpg)
Joel Thompson, the Indigenous All-Stars captain, leads the team onto the field with nine-year-old Quaden at CBUS stadium on The Gold Coast
Quaden’s mother Yarraka shared the distressing video which sparked the outpouring of support after picking her son up from school on Wednesday.
The schoolboy, who has achondroplasia – the most common type of dwarfism – told his mother: ‘Give me a rope, I want to kill myself.’
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.’
Quaden also scratched at his neck and said: ‘I want to die… I want to scratch myself.’