The mother of bullied US schoolboy, Keaton Jones, has said the family is “not racist” and that pictures of them posing with the Confederate flag were “ironic”.
Kimberley Jones apologised for the photos, which emerged after a video of her 11-year-old son crying after being bullied went viral and was viewed over 22 million times on Facebook. The video clip prompted messages of support from a host of celebrities such as Avengers actor Chris Evans, rapper Snoop Dogg and singer Justin Bieber.
However the family faced a backlash after the photos of them brandishing the controversial flag surfaced online on Monday.
Today Ms Jones went on the Good Morning America show to address her son’s meteoric rise to internet fame and the controversy surrounding the Tennessee family. She said: “We’re not racist, people who know us know that. It was meant to be ironic and funny and extreme. I am genuinely, truly sorry. If I could take it back, I would. “If they want to hate me or whatever, that’s fine, but still, talk to your kids, talk to your kids, because this is an epidemic.”
The use of the Confederate flag is a contentious issue in the US, seen by critics as a reminder of slavery and racial oppression dating back to the American Civil War.
Keaton Jones became a cause celebre in the US over the weekend when his mother posted a clip of him sobbing after she had picked him up from school following an alleged bullying incident.
In the footage, Keaton asks: “Just out of curiosity, why do they bully? What is the point of it? Why do you find joy in taking innocent people and finding a way to be mean to them? It is not okay.”
The schoolboy goes on to say his tormentors made fun of his nose, called him ugly and told him he had no friends.
A representative for Horace Maynard Middle School in Union County, Tennesse, which Keaten attends, confirmed there had been a bullying incident.
James Carter, the director of Union County Public Schools, said: “To fulfill our mission of educating all children in Union County Public Schools, we must provide an academic environment that is safe, civil and supportive.
“We do not and will not tolerate bullying and have a policy in place that addresses conduct taking place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided transportation or at any official school bus stop.”
The video, which was posted on Friday, started to be shared widely on social media over the weekend and by Monday a growing number of stars had posted about Keaton and offered to meet him and his family.
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?
Among them was Captain America actor Evans, who invited the family to the premiere of his Avengers film next year, and Snoop Dogg, who also offered to meet, adding he would be a friend to the schoolboy “for life”.
Joseph Lam, from New Jersey, created the page saying he was “really touched” by Keaton’s video and “felt compelled to help”.
However Mr Lam has since ceased donations on the page in the wake of the Confederate flag controversy and it is currently unclear what will happen with the money raised. GoFundMe told The Telegraph it was working to establish who the money will go to.
Bullied Student Keaton Jones GoFundme Page On Hold, $58k Left Hanging
Account On Hold, $58k Left Hanging!!!
There’s a big hiccup in online fundraising efforts for Keaton Jones — one GoFundMe page has been shut down altogether, and another’s on hold with nearly $60,000 unspoken for.
GoFundMe tells us the page labeled “Stand Up for Keaton,” which was opened 2 days ago, is no longer accepting donations. Since Keaton’s anti-bullying message went viral over the weekend, the page has pulled in $58,249 in donations … however the guy who started it is putting the charity on hold. GoFundMe says it needs to contact Keaton’s mom, Kimberly Jones, to ensure she’s the beneficiary … since the guy who started the page doesn’t know her. So far, the company’s been unable to reach her.
There was a second GoFundMe page, purportedly started by Kimberly herself which solicited money for Keaton’s Christmas gifts. Sources close to the situation tell us that was immediately shut down by GoFundMe due to fraud concerns — namely, whether it was really started by Kimberly.
Further complicating the fundraising are social media postings from the real Kimberly Jones. As we reported … photos of her with the Confederate flag and comments about whining “butt hurt Americans” have sparked an online backlash.
The guy behind the “Stand Up for Keaton” page even reacted, saying, “THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE MOM!!” He added he doesn’t know the Jones family, but just wanted to help a kid who’s been bullied.
HERE IS THE BULLY STORY OF HIM
Photos and words posted by Tennessee student Keaton Jones’ mother have many people questioning whether she deserves any of the sympathy generated by Keaton’s viral video.
Kimberly Jones’ Facebook page reportedly features several photos of herself and friends displaying the Confederate flag. There’s also a post in August where she seems to be telling people to stop whining about slavery and racism. It’s not clear exactly what she’s referring to, but the post was written 2 weeks after the neo-nazi rally in Charlottesville.
One of the photos on her page shows Keaton and a few other kids. Keaton is holding the U.S. flag and another kid is holding the Confederate flag.
The video Kimberly posted of Keaton talking about getting bullied has won over a ton of celebs — many of whom have invited him and his mom to Hollywood and sporting events.
You gotta wonder … if Kimberly’s posts — especially the one where she shows zero sympathy for “butt hurt Americans” — will make celebs and others reconsider their sympathy for her and Keaton.
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