STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Mother Of Keaton Jones Under Fire After Her Pro-Confederate Flag Posts Surface Amid Her Son Receiving Support From Black Celebrities

Many say her views don't change their support for her child but hope this attention changes her views.

Over the weekend, a video of a student in Tennessee went viral after his description of the bullying he endures pulled at the heartstrings of many celebrities. However, once Facebook posts from his mother — wherein she defends the Confederate Flag and criticizes Black protestors — surfaced, a debate about selective empathy followed. 

Keaton Jones is a student at Horace Maynard Middle School in Maynardville in Union County, Tenn., and in a recent video he revealed how his classmates made fun of the way he looks, poured milk on him, put ham down his clothes and refused to be his friend. 

  • His mother, Kimberly Jones, posted the tearful video to Facebook

  • Quickly after, Keaton received support from many celebrities who pledged to be his friend and even offered him special opportunities

  • Shortly after Keaton's story went viral, his mother's past posts also received much attention

  • When the posts were brought to the attention of some of the celebrities, many said the views of Keaton's mother do not take away from his pain

  • Some expressed a hope to Kimberly that she will change her views after the support she's received, specifically from Black celebrities

  • Additionally, the validity of Keaton's claims as well as his mother's motives have come into question

    The principal of Keaton's middle school said the incident described in the video had been resolved and the situation was not as widely spread as it appears, reported Knox News. 

    "It's not as rampant as the video would have you believe," said Principal Greg Clay. "I can't tell you what was done, but I can tell you action was taken with the children." 

    Clay said he wasn't aware of Jones being repeatedly bullied and that the incident was resolved weeks ago.

    Also a GoFundMe has raised over $55,000 for Keaton; however, it's unclear if his mother started the campaign and who will be receiving the money.

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