Keaton Jones' GoFundMe account put on hold as bullied teen's mum faces backlash over racism claims
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The GoFundMe page set up for bullied teen Keaton Jones has been put on hold amid a fierce family backlash.
Over the weekend a powerful video of Keaton telling his mother Kimberly Jones about the horrifying reality of bullying went viral, with stars around the world offering their support.
A GoFundMe account was subsequently set up by Joseph Lam and it currently has almost $60,000 worth of donations.
However, Joseph put the account on hold on Monday, writing on the campaign page: "As I sit back and read these comments and watched the video again I feel I have to make this update.
"THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE MOM!! However passing judgement on her before you know her is a form of bullying.
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(Image: Facebook)
"Condemnation before evaluation is the ultimate form of ignorance. I can't even say for sure that any of whats being said is true. I don't know the family personally and never claimed to have known them," he continued.
The move came after some claimed they had found a number of controversial posts on Kimberly's Facebook account.
Media personality Tariq Nasheed uploaded an alleged post shared in August which appears to show family members posing by a Confederate flag - which for many Americans is a representation of slavery, hatred and white supremacy.
(Image: Facebook)
He wrote alongside it: "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."
(Image: Facebook)
Orange Is The New Black actor Nick Stevenson was among a number of celebrities who addressed the backlash.
He tweeted: "This is in response to my offering Saturday night regarding Keaton Jones bullying which touched a nation and in a fit of happiness the world was good.
"If what I’m hearing about his mother’s racism is true-shame on you #KimberlyJones I’m still #KeatonStrong but #racism isn’t on."
Musician John Mayer shared: "48 hours into this story and a backlash has begun. We’re introduced to the inevitable grey area of a situation. The unified take begins to splinter under its own weight."
“Keaton didn’t get to choose the family that raised & shaped him, you smug ghoul,” Comedian Patton Oswalt tweeted to a follower who asked him if he would be withdrawing his support following the allegations.
Keaton's sister Lakyn took to Twitter to shut down the accusations, writing: "Those who know me and my family know we aren't racist. My brother doesn't say the "N" word. Please leave it alone."
Joseph's full statement read on the GoFundMe page: "As many of you know I paused the donations as well as the comments. As I sit back and read these comments and watched the video again I feel I have to make this update. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE MOM!! However passing judgement on her before you know her is a form of bullying.
"Condemnation before evaluation is the ultimate form of ignorance. I can't even say for sure that any of whats being said is true. I don't know the family personally and never claimed to have known them."
He continued: "This is about a kid who's been bullied and not just one kid, Keaton, there are many unspoken cases about kids being bullied. We have to be the voice for the voiceless. In the video I saw a kid crying not just for himself but for others.
"To me thats a kid with a heart of gold and deserves praise. Im hoping that we can turn the money into something good whether it be for private school or college fund. Im in touch with GFM on how to proceed at this point. Thank you every one that donated."