Trigger warning – this article discusses suicide.
From a heart-wrenching viral video to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, young Quaden Bales has transformed his painful school experiences into a promising acting career.
A few years ago, the internet was touched by a deeply emotional plea from an Australian mother, whose young son, Quaden, was enduring severe bullying at school. Quaden, who lives with dwarfism, was captured on video by his mom, Yarraka, in utter despair after yet another tough day at school.
Fast forward to today and Quaden isn’t just any kid; he’s a rising star in Hollywood, landing roles in big blockbuster movies. It’s a dream turn of events from what was undoubtedly a very dark place.
The video that sparked a global conversation on bullying was shared in 2020. Yarraka, in the video, expressed her desperation: “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.”
She implored, “So, can you please educate your children, your families, your friends, because all it takes is for one more incident and you wonder why kids are killing themselves.”
Yarraka revealed the unbearable pain her son felt, saying he was suicidal ‘nearly every day’ due to the relentless bullying, both at school and in public.
The outpouring of support following the video was immense. Celebrities like Hugh Jackman, Mark Hamill, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan reached out to express their solidarity and support. Morgan even invited Quaden to connect, saying, “You have friends, me included, I am your buddy. You haven’t met me yet, but we’ll see if we can change that.”
Quaden’s story caught the attention of none other than legendary director George Miller, who cast him in the 2022 film ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’. Miller didn’t stop there; he also included Quaden in ‘Furiosa’, a much-anticipated sequel to ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, featuring stars Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Quaden was recently seen shining at the premiere of ‘Furiosa’, which hit theaters on May 24, showcasing just how far resilience can take you.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.