11-Year-Old Reads Cruel Comments About Himself

Logan Fairbanks and his dad have posted a lot of videos on YouTube, and the 11-year-old couldn't help but notice the cruel taunts being directed his way. He convinced his reluctant dad, Josh, to allow him to make a video in which he reads some of them, reports ABC News. It's tough to hear—both Cosmopolitan and Today use the phrase "heart-breaking"—but Logan doesn't flinch:

• It's funny because he's fat."
• "He looks like such a stupid fatso."
• "His dad scared the gay right out of him."
• "I'm surprised he fits in the front seat."
• "Squeal, piggy, squeal."
• "I hope that he dies."
• "He is so ugly and big."
• "I hope he gets cancer."

It's not a pity party, though. After reading the list and pausing a moment, Logan says: "I hope that people don't bully other people anymore. I hope that this helps. And people that have been bullied: Don't let these words affect you." The video has now been viewed more than 500,000 times, and Logan tells ABC he's gotten feedback from around the world. "I wanted to show that I could be strong against whatever people said against me and to inspire others who deal with the same thing." (One study finds that the effects of bullying can last into middle age.)