CHARACTER COUNTS

Sports stars stand up after Keaton Jones’ plea to stop bullying

Dec 11, 2017, 11:21 AM

Keaton Jones was a victim of bullying, but despite feeling the immediate emotions after being picked on once again this week, he asked his mother to film him making a plea against the act.

Message received.

The video of the Knoxville, Tenn., boy went viral, and it especially made an impact on the sports world.

Locally, he was noticed by Tennessee freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and receiver Tyler Byrd. Guarantano tweeted out a photo of the two hanging out.

Titans tight end Delanie Walker, before he played the Cardinals in Arizona Sunday, filmed a response to Jones.

But the story blew up to even greater proportions outside the state of Tennessee.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith invited Jones to come to the next Grizzlies-Cavs matchup in Memphis, and that got LeBron James in on standing up against bullying.

Other entertainers, such as “Captain America” actor Chris Evans and “Star Wars” lead Mark Hamill, also joined in by showing support for Jones.

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Sports stars stand up after Keaton Jones’ plea to stop bullying