Quaden Bayles – the young boy who went viral after his mom recorded his heartbreaking response to bullies – has left moviegoers in awe.
Back in 2020, a then-nine-year-old Quaden broke the hearts of social media users everywhere when his mom uploaded a video of the youngster crying in the back of their car.
Per the Daily Mail, Bayles was born with a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia.
In the viral footage, a visible distressed Quaden was heard screaming: “I just want to stab myself in the heart… I want someone to kill me.”
Mom Yarraka Bayles then says in the video: “This is what bullying does.”
The youngster was then further trolled online after some viewers alleged that he was an 18-year-old actor trying to scam people and raise money. These claims were false – he is, in fact, just a child.
After the video went viral, Quaden received an outpouring of support from a number of A-List stars, such as Hugh Jackman and Cardi B – as well as Oscar-winning director George Miller.
The famed director would cast Quaden in a small role in his 2022 movie Three Thousand Years of Longing alongside Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba.
After seeing how well Quaden performed in that movie, Miller said he just had to cast Quaden in Furiosa. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the director said: “It was good for us and it was good for him […] He did such a good job [in Three Thousand Years of Longing] that he’s got a small role in Furiosa.”
And after Quaden walked the red carpet and the movie hit theaters this week, fans have been delighted to see how the young boy has turned so much pain into success – as he stars as War Pup in the blockbuster.
One moviegoer wrote on X: “Went to see Mad Max Furiosa today and a real highlight was seeing Quaden Bayles – the young Indigenous boy who was bullied a few years ago due to his dwarfism – play a starring role. It made my day.
“The movie was also pretty good too.”
And after mom Yarraka shared a photo of her son posing with star Anya Taylor Joy, one person commented: “I always say that the best revenge is success and now you dear Quaden are proving this to be true.
“Where are those bullies now? Watching you in the cinema and hopefully regretting their actions. Go you Quaden! You are a superstar buddy.”
Another added: “Loved watching Quaden on the big screen.”
Back in 2022, Bayles told NITV: “I can’t believe I’m in Mad Max! My brother was the one that showed it [to me], it blew my mind,” he said.
“I was a bit scared, but I love it. I love the movie, and I love working with George Miller. It’s a really great job for me, because of what I have been through. I really love acting.”