The story of 11-year-old Keaton Jones' tearful tale of bullying became a viral video seen by close to fifty million people after it was shared it on Facebook, but it is now causing some backlash.
The young boy was showered with support from across the world and celebrities like Justin Bieber, Chris Evans, Katy Perry, and Demi Lovato, but that support quickly turned to controversy after Confederate flag photos and racist comments were reportedly discovered on Keaton’s mother’s Facebook page.
Watch: Woman Gets Revenge on Bully from Her Past
Despite the controversy, The Doctors feel Keaton's story still highlights the important issue of bullying.
They note the staggering statistics regarding bullying, which include:
- Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims
- Bullied students grow up more socially anxious, have less self-esteem and require more mental health services
- 1 million children were harassed, threatened or subjected to other forms of cyberbullying on Facebook during the past year
Watch: Parents Fined for Their Bullying Kids?!
"If you're a kid getting bullied, it should stop. So, hopefully, this has raised awareness," Dr. Travis Storks says. "We should all be against bullying. Whenever you see it, take action and certainly talk to your kids about it."
To learn more about how to handle a bully, check out this video.
For more information and resources on suicide prevention, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-TALK, or visit The Suicide Prevention Resource Center website.
