The mother of Keaton Jones is defending herself against accusations she is ‘racist’ after photos emerged of her and her family posing with Confederate flags.
A video of Keaton went viral after his mum, Kimberly, uploaded a heartbreaking video of him talking about being bullied, on her Facebook page.
The devastating video has been viewed millions of times, with many people commenting to offer support to Keaton and Kimberly, including a host of celebrities – Justin Bieber, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo.
This Kid's Emotional Plea To His Tormentors Has Gone Viral
This bullied boy's message to his tormenters has gone viral for all the right reasons…Bullying is NOT okay ??
Posted by UNILAD on Monday, 11 December 2017
In the video, Keaton spoke out about how he was too frightened to go to lunch after cruel bullies ‘poured milk on him’ and shoved ‘ham down his clothes’.
Keaton says these attacks were on account of him ‘looking different’, with the bullies telling him he was ‘ugly’.
Keaton cried as he revealed he had no friends, asking the questions all too many of us have asked at a difficult age: ‘Why do they bully? What’s the joy in it’?
Posting on Facebook, the angry mother wrote about the fear Keaton had experienced at the hands of bullies:
For the record, Keaton asked to do this AFTER he had me pick him up AGAIN because he was afraid to go to lunch. My kids are by no stretch perfect & at home, he’s as all boy as they come, but by all accounts, he’s good at school.
Talk to your kids. I’ve even had friends of mine tell me their kids were only nice to him to get him to mess with people. We all know how it feels to want to belong, but only a select few know how it really feels not to belong anywhere.
Dear Mrs. Kimberly Jones, I do not agree with this but we will not hold your son accountable for your actions. I pray you see the pure hearts and amazing love in POC since they have stopped to spread awareness for your son! God bless #BullyingisNotOkay #KeatonJones @Lakyn_Jones pic.twitter.com/qL6ar1pMwp
— Flower child ??? (@Top_notch_luv) December 11, 2017
Before long, people had spotted other photos on Kimberly’s Facebook page, including photos posed with the Confederate flag and guns with the caption: ‘I stand for the flag’ – which have now been deleted.
Responding to the backlash, Kimberly told CBS This Morning:
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She said:
I feel like anybody who wants to take the time to ask anybody who I am or even troll through some other pictures, I mean I feel like we’re not racist.
I mean, people that know us, know us.
It was meant to be ironic and funny and extreme. I am genuinely truly sorry. If I could take it back, I would.
I feel bad for the kid but maybe he’s being bullied for spewing racist beliefs. Look at his mother’s Facebook page. #kimberlyjones I can’t get on board with racists, she’s paying for her hate thru her kid #KeatonJones pic.twitter.com/q68YyX5CZH
— Gabriel (@1andonlyreal1) December 11, 2017
Keaton’s sister, Lakyn, has also taken to social media to insist her family are not racist – and in another tweet explains an Instagram account believed to be her mother’s is nothing to do with them, nor are the GoFundMe pages.
The Instagram account was deactivated some time on Monday after MMA’s Joe Schilling posted a screenshot of a conversation with the user, who wrote to him ‘what happened to us whites sticking together?’
One GoFundMe account which had been set up has also been shut down following the backlash, the page had raised more than £45,000.
Those who know me and my family know we aren’t racist. My brother doesn’t say the “N” word. Please leave it alone
— Lakyn ? (@Lakyn_Jones) December 11, 2017
The Instagram KimberlyJones_38 is NOT my mom. She has a private Instagram and hasn’t talked to anyone. We haven’t received any money and don’t plan on it. The gofundme’s aren’t by any of us.
— Lakyn ? (@Lakyn_Jones) December 11, 2017
If you have been affected by this story or need to talk to someone in confidence call Childline free on 0800 1111.