Unconditional acceptance. Something so natural to wish for and yet something seemingly so unattainable. Sure, you will find yourself in most situations, where at least one other person feels the same kind of different, but the craving to be accepted by wider society remains.
Unfortunately, whilst adults will at least try to be cordial to maintain a level of peace, kids can be real jerks and turn on those they deem lesser. Whether to showcase power, fall to social pressure, or avoid the same treatment being shown to them; regardless of the reason, the shunning and bullying of another is despicable.
This boy’s mom posted a heartfelt message on Facebook, describing how no one but two teachers wrote in her son’s yearbook, all others outright saying ‘no,’ which devastated the boy. However, the post turned both of their lives upside down when love and support started pouring in, including from actor Paul Rudd.
Let’s dive into the wholesomeness.
More info: Facebook
Paul Rudd, better known as Ant Man, came rushing in to show his support to a bullied 12-year-old boy whose classmates refused to sign his yearbook
Image credits: AntMan3001
Yearbooks have been a great way to capture moments in time forever. From classmates to school events, it’s a tradition that enriches that school experience. But when you’re unfortunate enough to be put in a class full of imbeciles, who’ve got the empathic capacity of a walnut, it gets lonely and school becomes a dreaded place to be.
One mom from Colorado, named Cassandra Cooper-Ridder, shared a story about how none of her 12-year-old son’s classmates signed his yearbook. Although struggling to make friends in his class, the post touched hundreds of people who came to show Brody love and support, one of them being actor Paul Rudd.
After hearing the story, the actor reached out to the family via Facetime and then proceeded to send a letter and a signed Ant Man helmet
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
Best known for his role as Ant Man, the star appeared to have reached out to the family, calling them on Facetime. Afterwards Cassandra said: "Something AMAZING happened today!!!! Brody got to talk to Paul Rudd! ANT-MAN!!!! Like is this real life?! Pinch me now! Brody was so excited! Shout out to Paul Rudd, and his sister Mandi for reaching out and setting this up! You truly made Brody so happy! My heart is so full right now!"
But this was just the beginning, as Paul sent Brody something very special after hearing his story firsthand. The package contained a letter and a signed Ant Man helmet that read: “To my good friend Brody for when he takes on the world!”
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
The message on the helmet read: “To my good friend Brody for when he takes on the world!” The two are now on a texting basis
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
Brody’s mom shared the letter, in which Paul told the seventh-grader that it’s “important to remember that even when life is tough that things get better. There are so many people that love you and think you’re the coolest kid there is - me being one of them! I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’re going to accomplish.”
The gifts moved Cassandra to tears. She said in the Facebook post: “Paul Rudd is an amazing human being!” The fact that her boy and the actor were on texting terms was the cherry on top. She shared a screenshot where Brody told Paul he was his favorite superhero, to which the actor replied: “You’re mine.” Absolutely the sweetest thing!
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
“Paul Rudd is an amazing human being!” she wrote in a Facebook post. “You truly made Brody so happy! My heart is so full right now!"
Image credits: Gage Skidmore
Brody’s story first caught wind at the end of May, with hundreds of people sympathizing with the boy and his mother after she shared what had happened. It seemed as though the bullying had been going on for quite a while before Cassandra spoke out about it.
Talking to TODAY, Cassandra recalled her boy looking very down, only wanting to listen to music. When asked about his yearbook, the boy’s eyes filled with tears, and he explained that everyone he asked had flat out said ‘no.’
“He’s super intellectual and the kids in his age group have trouble relating to him,” the mom explained. She said they also tease Brody because “his ears stick out” and he’s “extremely thin.”
Brody’s mom Cassandra wrote a Facebook post after her boy shed tears because all of his classmates refused to sign his yearbook
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
A couple of his classmates jotted down their names - but there were no messages, other than the two from his teachers. “My poor son. Doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “2 teachers and a total of 2 students wrote in his yearbook. Despite Brody asking all kinds of kids to sign it. My heart is shattered. Teach your kids kindness.”
The post was meant to spread awareness of bullying at the Academy of Charter Schools in Westminster, Colorado, which the boy has attended since fifth grade. Cassandra hoped that it would prevent further bullying of her son and others.
Cassandra explained: “We try to teach kindness in our family, and not seeing any kindness from students in his class was appalling to me." As a student, she recalled the importance of yearbooks and said, “that people would tell him no and deny him a signature, it just hurt my heart.”
“Hope you make some more friends,” the boy wished, and his dream came true when a group of older students at his school stepped in to fill his yearbook
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
The boy wrote a wish for himself, saying “Hope you make some more friends - Brody Ridder.” Thankfully, some wishes come true threefold. The boy began receiving tons of love and multiple offers of friendship per day, starting with a group of older students at his school, who stepped in to fill his yearbook with lovely messages.
17-year-old Joanna Cooper revealed to Upworthy that when she received a text message from her mother with a screenshot of the Facebook post, she decided to get some friends and go to sign his yearbook because "no kid deserves to feel like that."
The 11th-grader still remembers the pressure to fit in when she was Brody's age. Having signatures in your yearbook wasn't only a measure of popularity, she recalled, but also meant simply "knowing that you have friends." Maya Gregory, an eighth-grader at the school, felt the same. "No one helped me when I was in that situation," the 14-year-old said. "So I wanted to be there for him."
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
"No one helped me when I was in that situation," one of the students said, while leaving beautifully encouraging words to the young boy
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
“He had messages from eighth graders and even 11th graders,” Cassandra said. “Brody's exact words to me were, ‘This is the best day ever.’ Some kids even put their [phone numbers] for Brody to contact them." The messages expressed how awesome and kind the boy was, hoping he would never change and that he’d have the best summer. "Hey buddy, never change, never put your head down," one wrote.
Those who had previously refused to write in Brody’s yearbook were suddenly “lining up” to sign it, and the boy couldn’t be happier. He’s already telling his mom how excited he is for seventh grade. "He's on cloud nine," Cassandra said. And the boy deserves all the goodness the world has to offer, considering the amount of negativity he’s had to go through already.
Brody's mom set up a PO box and have been receiving lots of letters full of love from people touched by this story
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
His mom set up a PO box so that people could send Brody letters. "Of course I read them and check them before he does," the mom wrote in a Facebook post. "Feel free to write him! We are creating a book for Brody with all the letters in them."
Here is the address for anyone interested:
Brody Ridder
PO BOX 99
Henderson, CO 80640
PO BOX 99
Henderson, CO 80640
Brody is now happier than ever and is excited for the next school year. We hope that the bullying is a thing of the past for the boy and that a bright future awaits him
Image credits: Cassandra Cooper
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center states that one out of every five students report being bullied. When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior, they send the message that it is not acceptable.
Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time. The main thing - don’t stay silent and take the abuse in isolation. There will be people that can help you. Here are some resources for those interested.
Hey, maybe like in this case, it’ll also be a superhero and a group of awesome peers! Let us know your thoughts on this story, don’t forget to upvote, and have a fantastic day!
People praised Paul Rudd, as well as the highschoolers, wishing Brody all the best. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
