The video of Keaton Jones recounting how he has been a victim of bullying took the internet by storm. Many celebrities and athletes poured out their support and well wishes to the youngster. Even some Avengers got into the fray. Captain America’s Chris Evans and The Hulk’s Mark Ruffalo invited him to the Avengers: Infinity War premiere in May.
https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans/status/939976020479938562
Keaton, will you’ve my guest at the Premiere of #InfinityWar too? I think you are about one of the coolest kids I have ever seen! Can’t wait to meet you in person, pal. Forget those ignorant kids. One day, very soon, they are going to feel pretty stupid for this. https://t.co/BqJLxu25GN
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) December 11, 2017
It didn’t take long for internet detectives to dig up dirt, not against Keaton, but his mother Kimberly. A user who goes by Queen Mel claimed that his mother Kimberly Jones is a racist based off a Facebook post which shows her in photos next to Confederate flags.
That viral video of #KeatonJones talking about being bullied is heartbreaking, and I feel sympathetic towards that child.
But his mom, Kimberly on the other hand, is a suspected racist who makes very problematic posts bullying Black protesters #TheIrony pic.twitter.com/NUhidunP8z— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) December 11, 2017
Kimberly Jones denied the claims she was a racist. And apologized for posting the pictures to Facebook saying, “I’m sorry. I am sorry.” She also denied the false allegations that she was attempting to profit off the video. However, I’m not really sure why she is apologizing for posting pictures of the Battle Flag of the Northern Virginia Army. Many in the South wave the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage. In fact, it’s been referred to as the rebel flag, Dixie flag, and Southern cross.
It didn’t take long for fans to turn their eye to Chris Evans and other Marvel Studios stars who had invited Jones to be their guest. Many accused Keaton of calling kids the “N’ word at school without any evidence to back up their claims. The kid who had become a hero for speaking up against bullying, now found himself in probably the biggest bullying attack of his life.
https://twitter.com/f2licity/status/940289920282845184
@ChrisEvans you might wanna reconsider your offer to this family your hearts in the right place as always BUT:
Keaton was "bullied" because he called black kids the "N" word and they defended themselves.— Pacasso (@1pacasso) December 12, 2017
You’re such a good soul and people will always try take advantage of that! Best giving that ticket to a dying child fan than a racist one! Much love Chris x
— Vicky Davis (@VickyDa51865417) December 12, 2017
Don Cheadle, who plays War Machine, appeared to succumb to the pressure and said Keaton was no longer invited to the Avengers: Infinity premiere.
https://twitter.com/DonCheadle/status/940366194514825216
Instead of Keaton, Ruffalo and Cheadle invited another kid to join them for the Avengers: Infinity War premiere.
This young man is my Hero too. The kids know in their hearts what is right. Both want to be accepted outside of their appearance. Me and @DonCheadle would like to invite this gentleman to the premiere of #InfinityWar as our guest. https://t.co/U0cgplnqas
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) December 12, 2017
Evans backed the decision by Cheadle and Ruffalo.
https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans/status/940559717952315403
However, fans still decided to bully Chris Evans to ensure Keaton Jones was uninvited.
https://twitter.com/tattooedflowers/status/940559915243974656
uninvite keaton
— CHECK OUT @usxuk (@Ionghairedbucky) December 12, 2017
Yes please! He and his racist family has 58K in the bank now. They can go move somewhere by themselves away from diversity.
— Regina (@GinaBeansXO) December 12, 2017
chris dont do it their family is racists and the kid called somebody the n word and got in trouble for it dont do it
— smiley (@fivesoslana) December 12, 2017
One Twitter user even referred to Keaton and his Mother as the devil.
https://twitter.com/willeythewhale/status/940683579654328321
Keaton and his mother spoke up about bullying and in return they became an even bigger victim. The Twitter lynch mob went after Keaton and his Mother without any evidence and spewed lie after lie in order to disparage him. It’s absolutely disgusting.
What was supposed to be an amazing story with someone like Captain America taking a stand for a bullied child, turned into a mob going after a child because of the supposed actions of his mother. True or not, what his mother did in the past shouldn’t have cost him the ability to go see the Avengers movie with some heroes. But it did. Now Keaton Jones hasn’t even returned to school since the video has gone viral. It makes me wonder if all of this harassment against both Keaton and Chris Evans was worth it.