Claims that a bullied Australian boy who went viral this week is 18- years old have been slammed by people on social media as well as a rap star.
Quaden Bayles grabbed global headlines this week after being caught on camera by his mother, Yarraka, talking about wanting to die due to the relentless bullying he was being subjected to by other students at his Brisbane school.
Bayles was born with Achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism, and his mother wanted to show the impact bullying can have on a young child.
But some online have alleged the boy isn't an innocent nine-year-old, but an 18-year-old making up a situation to get money. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $425,000 in just over a day.
Snopes fact-checked the claims, which appear to be derived from the boy being pictured next to the number 18 as well as wearing a shirt reading Gucci. But Snopes found posts by the boy's mother in 2012 in which she says he is about 15 months old. There is also a video of him on television at the age of five missing his two front baby teeth.
Many have hit back at the allegations, including the Stand Tall 4 Dwarfism Facebook page, which shared a post from a woman saying she has known about Bayles for a while.
"Ima say this once and that's that.. I've know about Quaden since before this shit blew up. Yes, he's 9! Dwarfism is not a joke (sic)," she said.
Yarraka shared that post.
Rapper Cardi-B has also defended the boy, posting a video in which she hit out at the lies.
"Everybody keeps saying he's lying about his age, this and that," the rapper said.
"I really don't think that he's lying on his age. And just because there's video of him flossing money and acting all gangster and acting all cool, it doesn't mean that kids do not pick on him."
Other social media users feel for the boy and have expressed their heartbreak for him after the false claims.
"I can't believe that it's now the ADULTS bullying this little boy, after witnessing his trauma and pain," said one.
"It's disgusting what's happening to this family people are seriously that jealous of a child they will make him into a joke because other people reached out to help," said another.
"This is absolutely disgusting and I am so sorry this is happening."
The video of Bayles went viral and received attention from the likes of actor Hugh Jackman and the NRL Indigenous All Stars. The boy and his family will also travel to Singapore courtesy of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promoter Chatri Sityodtong. He will take part in a programme meant to "bully-proof" him.
