Keaton Jones: Mother of bullied boy says photos with Confederate flag were 'ironic'

Kimberly Jones maintains her family is not racist

The mother of a boy whose video about bullying went viral has defended herself against allegations that she is racist, claiming photos of her family posing with a Confederate flag were meant to be “ironic” and “funny”.

Middle school student Keaton Jones went viral this month when his mother, Kimberly, posted a video of him discussing his experience with bullies to Facebook. In the video, the teen tearfully explains how his peers make fun of his appearance and pour milk on him at school.

“Why do you find joy in taking innocent people and finding a way to be mean to them?” he asks of his bullies. “It’s not OK.”

Keaton’s video drew messages of support from politicians, celebrities, and sports stars across the country. But it also brought scrutiny of his family, who some have accused of racist behaviour.

A photo posted on Twitter by Keaton’s sister, Lakyn, shows the family posing with a Confederate flag. Several social media users claimed to have found similar photos – as well as offensive status updates – on the elder Ms Jones’s Facebook page before it was made private.

Ms Jones has now confirmed she posted the Confederate flag pictures, but maintains that her family is “not racist”.

“I feel like anybody who wants to take the time to ask anybody who I am or even troll through some other pictures, I mean I feel like we're not racist,” Ms Jones told ABC’s Good Morning America. “I mean, people that know us, know us.”

Of the photos, she added: “It was meant to be ironic and funny and extreme. I am genuinely truly sorry. If I could take it back, I would.”

Her daughter also addressed the controversy via social media, tweeting: “Those who know me and my family know we aren’t racist. My brother doesn’t say the “N” word. Please leave it alone.”

The family has also faced controversy around various fundraising efforts started in their name. At least one Instagram account claiming to be run by Ms Jones posted photos of a GoFundMe for the family, urging people to donate. The Instagram account has since been deleted, and the family claims they were never behind it.

The GoFundMe, which was started by a third party and raised nearly $60,000, has been put on hold. The creator says he hopes the money can eventually be turned into a college fund for Keaton.

“This is about a kid who's been bullied and not just one kid, Keaton, there are many unspoken cases about kids being bullied,” the creator wrote on the GoFundMe page. “We have to be the voice for the voiceless.”