On Tuesday, an England-based musical teacher named Jacqueline Hughes wrote about a young student of hers named Charlie who had gotten bullied and beaten up by hateful students at her school. The bullies called him “gay, fat and stupid.”
On Twitter, Hughes wrote:
Industry friends I need a wee favour. Sadly a little boy I teach, Charlie, who is also a dear family friend is sadly being bullied at school for his love of MT, being called gay, fat, stupid….the list goes on. Today he was beaten up by 6 boys and left curled up, crying.
I know many people face bullies everyday and many have in their lifetime. But I wondered if you wouldn’t mind, if you have time sending me a little video to cheer him up, maybe some advice, your own stories, how you didn’t let them stop you, what you are doing now.
She never expected the outpouring of love that came in from London’s West End stage actors via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. PinkNews reports:
Cast members of musicals like Aladdin, Hamilton, Wicked, Mama Mia, Book of Mormon, Come from Away, The Lion King, Kinky Boots and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie all sent videos to Charlie, and the hashtag #cheerupcharlie was trending in the UK yesterday.
Here are a few of the videos:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Charlie! ? Sending you love from everyone here at Come From Away! ?? pic.twitter.com/Bpcy1Cr5LT
— ComeFromAwayUK (@ComeFromAwayUK) July 17, 2019
Charlie, the @bookofmormonuk cast are thinking of you today! Stay strong, you’re part of the most wonderful community in the world! Xxxx pic.twitter.com/7mgaTSQws1
— J?a?d?e? ?J?o?h?n?s?o?n??? (@JadeJohnson96) July 17, 2019
In response, Hughes issued a personal video message (below) and wrote in a follow-up tweet, “So Charlie has just left crying “happy tears” he is so overwhelmed, seeing his little face light up with each and every message! Needless to say we didn’t get much singing done today! So here’s a thank you from Charlie, doing what he loves xxx.”
Related: Fast food giant releases the strangest anti-bullying ad the world has ever seen
Here’s her teary-eyed video thanking the casts for their kind messages of support:
THANK YOU xx pic.twitter.com/8NEEKXt2r8
— Jacqueline Hughes (@_jacquelinehugh) July 17, 2019
She also met up with Charlie to send thanks and sing Elton John‘s 1983 self-respect ballad, “I’m still standing.”
So Charlie has just left crying “happy tears” he is so overwhelmed, seeing his little face light up with each and every message! Needless to say we didn’t get much singing done today! So here’s a thank you from Charlie, doing what he loves xxx #CheerUpCharlie pic.twitter.com/223dw70lq7
— Jacqueline Hughes (@_jacquelinehugh) July 17, 2019
It’s a happy ending worthy of musical theatre.
toddlicious
The world needs more teachers like this.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
In what world is that awesome kid “fat”???
nitejonboy
Bullies see what they want to see. May they burn in hell. This kid rocks. I wish I’d had support like that back when I was being called fat,gay and stupid. I still to this day suffer from PTSD due to all the bullying, have anxiety attacks and nightmares, Severe depression and am bipolar though that prolly isn’t related…I went on to become a film actor ( not famous yet,but have done some major films ) but there’s still deep parts of me where it really hurts sometimes.
nitejonboy
This teacher needs to be awarded teacher of the year, if there’s such an award. I wish I’d had teachers go for bat like me back then.God bless her,she’s a gem.
Virpilosus
Great teacher and one sweet, adorable kid. You GO LITTLE MAN!!!
jcoberkrom
While what the teacher did was nice I want to know why she didn’t make sure the bullies were disciplined. THAT is here job. Her job is to PROTECT all of her students. As I said what she did was nice, but her job is to do what she can to stop the bullying.
Feel good moments are just that. Moments.