Keaton Jones from Tennessee touched the hearts of many when a video of him detailing the bullying he suffered at school was posted over the weekend.
Many celebrities posted words of support and praise for Keaton with #standwithkeaton and #keatonstrong among other hashtags quickly trending. However, the uplifting nature of the story has soured since revelations have emerged about Kimberly Jones, Keaton’s mother and the one who posted the video.
Two GoFundMe pages that were set up to allegedly help Keaton (one of which raised nearly $60,000) have been shut down, although whether or not the page set-ups were connected to the family is still unknown. Meanwhile, Gregory Clay, the principal of Keaton’s middle school, told local press that the bullying isn’t “as rampant as the video would have you believe.” He also said the incident had happened prior to Friday, that the students involved had been dealt with, and that the school was taking care of Keaton.
Worst of all though is what has emerged on prior social media posts by Kimberly. As well as pictures of confederate flags, there are old posts that criticise protestors of police brutality against black Americans. Some accounts have alleged that Keaton was bullied for using racial slurs.
In the wake of this latest, celebrities who had voiced their support of Keaton over the last few days have taken to Twitter to express how they feel now:
This is in response to my offering Saturday night regarding #keatonjones #bullying which touched a nation and in a fit of happiness the world was good. If what I’m hearing about his mother’s #racism is true-shame on you #KimberlyJones I’m still #KeatonStrong but #racism isn’t on pic.twitter.com/eFj2AmK0Rp
— TheRealNickStevenson (@nickstevenson11) December 11, 2017
Keaton didn’t get to choose the family that raised & shaped him, you smug ghoul. How ‘bout showing him that people of all races & creeds can come together? Change things, maybe? Show him a better world? https://t.co/BZqBEboabL
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 11, 2017
But the Punched Nazi was a grown man who'd dug in on his slimy world view despite years of wider life experience. Keaton's a little kid -- his family hasn't allowed him any real perspective yet. Maybe try to stop Keaton from growing up to be a Punched Nazi? https://t.co/Bu6UOC2xBG
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 11, 2017
Well I'm inviting Keaton to the Golden Globes and making him sit with the cast of Get Out.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) December 11, 2017
If #Keaton was making racially bullying statements he and his mom needs to go to the principles office too & give an apology to those kids. https://t.co/6Eb8Pq69jA
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) December 11, 2017
Learning that Keaton’s family are supportive of the confederate flag is disappointing for me as a person of colour but I still feel that this child, yes CHILD, deserves to be treated with respect & should not be bullied. The beliefs/hypocrisy of his parents is another issue. 1/2 https://t.co/eAS6AxqJ8I
— Nathalie Emmanuel (@missnemmanuel) December 11, 2017