Quaden Bayles and mother sue Miranda Devine and News Corp for defamation
Quaden Bayles, a nine-year-old Indigenous boy with dwarfism, is suing Miranda Devine and News Corp for defamation, after Devine suggested Bayles’ experiences of bullying could be a “scam”.
In February, Bayles’ story went viral after his mother, Yarraka, posted a video addressing the bullying he has faced.
Bayles was attacked by trolls after his mother posted the video
“I’ve just picked my son up from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal, and I want people to know — parents, educators, teachers — this is the effect that bullying has,” Yarraka Bayles said in the video, which had 25m views before it was deleted.
“Every single freaking day, something happens. Another episode, another bullying, another taunt, another name-calling.”
The boy was very distressed in the video, and said: “I want to die right now.”
In response, he received support from celebrities like Cardi B and Hugh Jackman, who posted a video on Twitter.
“Quaden, you are stronger than you know, and no matter what, you’ve got a friend in me, so everyone let’s please be kind to each other,” Jackman said in the video, which attracted 1.8m views.
“Bullying is not okay, period. Life is hard enough. Let’s just remember every person in front of us is facing some kind of battle, so let’s just be kind.”
Quaden – you’ve got a friend in me. #BeKind @LokelaniHiga https://t.co/8dr3j2z8Sy pic.twitter.com/jyqtZYC953
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) February 20, 2020
Bayles was also asked to lead the country’s Indigenous All Stars rugby league team onto the field.
Online trolls, however, suggested he was faking the story, and lying about his age. Devine retweeted a tweet which referred to the viral clip as a “fake sobbing video”.
The tweet by Devine
“That’s really rotten if this was a scam. Hurts genuine bullying victims,” the News Corp columnist wrote.
In response, Yarraka Bayles commenced action in the Federal Court on behalf of her and her son, against Devine and News Corp’s Nationwide News, on 31 July. A number of documents have been filed on behalf of the boy and his mother.
Devine and News Corp are yet to file defences. News Corp would not comment on the matter.
Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.
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