EXCLUSIVE: Quaden Bayles signs celebrity agent: Bullying victim, 9, with dwarfism hires media manager who once represented Schapelle Corby's family and a child abuse victim of Hey Dad!
- Nine-year-old Quaden Bayles threatened take his own life in viral bullying video
- GoFundMe by an American comedian has raised more than $AUD700,000
- Quaden's family has enlisted the help of a media agent to handle interest
- Stephen Moriarty has previously been linked to high-profile media deals
The nine-year-old boy who said he wanted to kill himself after being bullied about his dwarfism has signed a celebrity agent as his Disneyland fundraiser rakes in more than $700,000.
As supportive friends – including a little boy who also has dwarfism – rally around the family of Quaden Bayles, the clan has enlisted a celebrity wheeler-and-dealer to handle global media interest.
The nine-year-old Indigenous boy, who has the most common type of dwarfism, achondroplasia, told his mother 'give me a rope, I want to kill myself' in a viral video which has been viewed more than 20 million times.
The heartbreaking footage prompted celebrities across the globe to publicly defend the schoolboy from bullying, including actor Hugh Jackman, rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston, rapper Cardi B, broadcaster Piers Morgan and Eric Trump.
Quaden Bayles, 9, disproved bizarre internet conspiracy theories that he is actually an adult by carrying a Super Mario themed Nintendo Switch case as he arrived home on Monday
The media frenzy has led the family to enlist the assistance of Stephen Moriarty, who has been publicly linked to past media deals involving Schapelle Corby's family and is the publicist for Sarah Monahan, the Hey Dad! abuse victim.
Mr Moriarty rarely appears in the headlines and does not even have a website for his celebrity wheeling-and-dealing business.
Quaden and his family returned to their Brisbane home on Monday afternoon following his unforgettable weekend appearance at the Indigenous All-Stars match on the Gold Coast.
He carried a Super Mario themed Nintendo Switch case - a move that appeared to disprove bizarre and false conspiracy theories that have emerged falsely claiming he is actually 18-years-old.
Bayles has been supported by family, close mates and global celebrities in the wake of his mother filming a video where he threatened to kill himself
Quaden led the Indigenous All Stars onto the field on the Gold Coast on Saturday night, holding the hand of captain Joel Thompson
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Quaden and his mother have signed a celebrity agent who once represented the family of drug smuggler Schapelle Corby (pictured)
Meanwhile, a close mate of Quaden's who also has achondroplasia has sent his friend a touching message of support, saying: 'I love you mate and I'm always there for you'.
Louise Martin said her son Riley, 10, from the New South Wales Central Coast, sent Quaden a series of moving messages in the wake of the viral video.
The little boys have a shared love of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team.
Riley, 10, from the NSW Central Coast, is a good mate of Quaden's and sent him a series of moving messages in the wake of the video, including: 'I love you mate and I'm always there for you'
Louise and Quaden's mother, Yarraka Bayles, became friends through social media pages supporting short-statured children.
A video message Riley sent Quaden said: 'You need to come to my school and everyone will play with you and talk to you here'.
Ms Martin said she, her mother and sister 'bawled their eyes out' at Quaden's heartbreaking video, and had not shown Riley the full context of the clip.
'We were all just crying and I reached out (to Quaden's mother Yarraka) straight away'.
Ms Martin said her son is aware people are often curious about his condition and sometimes faces bullying.
But she said Riley had a supportive environment at school: 'Everyone knows him, everyone loves him,' she said.
Quaden's mother, Yarraka Bayles, has reportedly pulled her son out of the state high school he attends. Ms Bayles has claimed Quaden has faced constant discrimination throughout his life.
Ms Bayles said she twice thought about deleting the bullying video she originally posted to Facebook, 'but I wanted people to see the effect bullying is having on my child.'
NITV reported Quaden was six when he first attempted to take his own life, following the death of his grandfather, the Indigenous broadcaster Tiga Bayles. He has reportedly made several attempts since.
'Thank you for all the support,' Quaden said in a video at the weekend.
For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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