Bullied Keaton Jones creates video expressing his plight - and attracts global support and invites from A-list stars

Celebrities including Justin Bieber, Mark Hamill and Katy Perry today rallied to support a schoolboy whose video about being bullied went viral.

A clip of Keaton Jones, from Tennessee, tearfully recounting the bullying he has suffered has been viewed more than 22 million times since his mother Kimberly posted it on social media.

It prompted a wave of support from stars, with Avengers star Mark Ruffalo offering Keaton and his mother guest spots at a film premiere in Los Angeles next year.

Chris Evans wrote: “Stay strong, Keaton. Don’t let them make you turn cold. I promise it gets better.”

Star Wars actor Hamill told him: “Don’t waste time wondering why a bully would be so mean. They’re sad people who think hurting others will make them feel better because they really don’t like themselves.”

Bieber posted: “You got a friend in me Lil bro! Hit me on dm and we can chat!!! Love you buddy!!”

Rapper Snoop Dogg said Keaton had a “friend for life” in him, while Hailee Steinfeld asked Keaton to be her date to the Pitch Perfect 3 premiere tomorrow.

“This broke my [heart] today. Please be kind to one another,” Katy Perry wrote, while Eva Longoria said: “I love this boy and I’ve never met him. You are brave and beautiful just as you are, don’t ever let others define who you are.”

A crowdsourcing page to help pay for Keaton’s future education has raised almost £40,000.

Keaton is understood to attend Horace Maynard Middle School in Maynardville, in Union County, Tennessee.

In the video, his mother Ms Jones said she had just picked up her son from school because he was too afraid to go to lunch.

Unable to hold back the tears, Keaton said other students call him ugly, make fun of his nose and tell him he has no friends.

He said: “Just out of curiosity, why do they bully? What’s the point of it? Why do they find joy in taking innocent people and find a way to be mean to them? It’s not OK.

“People that are different don’t need to be criticized about it. It’s not their fault. If you are made fun of, just don’t let it bother you.”

His mother said in her post: “We all know how it feels to want to belong, but only a select few know how it really feels not to belong anywhere.”

After the video went viral, Keaton’s mother and sister Lakyn said they have been overwhelmed by offers of assistance.

Ms Jones said: “I’m humbled by the voice my boy has been given,” while his sister said: “He is doing good...We thank everyone for the love and support.

“Seeing my brother’s face all over the internet and people giving him support is the most amazing feeling in the world.”