Buddy Bench redux? Video of bullied Tennessee boy captures hearts across the nation

As with the viral video of Keaton Jones' impassioned plea, people quickly latched on to the positive message offered by young Christian Bucks.

York Daily Record

Christian Bucks, 11, sits for a portrait on his original "buddy bench" outside Roundtown Elementary School Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in Manchester Township, York County, Pa. As a first-grade student at Roundtown Elementary School in 2013, Christian Bucks first learned of the buddy bench concept when his family faced the possibility of moving to Germany and his parents showed him a picture of a buddy bench at an international school there. The Bucks ended up not moving, and the next school year, Christian introduced the buddy bench — a playground bench where lonely students can sit and other students can approach them to play or talk — to his school. Six months after Roundtown installed a buddy bench of Christian's design, the idea had spread to schools across the U.S. and in other countries. Christian, now 11 years old and a fifth-grade student at Sinking Springs Elementary School, said he has seen many friendships form because thanks to the buddy bench. #weareonenation

A national outpouring of support for a boy in Tennessee whose emotional question to his mother, "Why do they bully," reflects in some ways the attention that came to a York County boy who found a way to ease the pain caused by bullying.

As a second-grade student at Roundtown Elementary School in 2014, Christian adapted an idea he had learned about from a school in Germany. Based on Christian's designs, the school installed a buddy bench — a playground bench where lonely students can sit and other students can approach them to play or talk. Six months later, the idea had spread to schools across the U.S. and in other countries.

More:I am an American: Christian Bucks popularizes the Buddy Bench

More:Crying East Tennessee boy's viral anti-bullying video attracts attention of Vols, Titans

Special Olympic Chief Inspirational Officer Loretta Claiborne talks with 10-year old Sinking Springs Elementary student Christian Bucks on a Buddy Bench at Central York Middle School. In 2013, Christian started the Buddy Bench initiative, where lonely students can sit when they want to invite someone to share time with them. The project now has a presence in 50 U.S. states and more than 12 countries. During their exchange, Christian said, “I was impressed with how things can change and be changed.”

On Friday, Kimberly Jones posted the video of her son, Keaton, on her Facebook page. She said she had just picked Keaton up from school in Union County, Tennessee, because he was too afraid to go to lunch as a result of bullying.

The video went viral over the weekend, garnering the attention of Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, pro wrestlers, rock stars, rappers and the Tennessee Titans.

The issues that Christian raised caught fire on a global level.

Today, there are more than 2,000 Buddy Benches at schools in all 50 states and in at least 13 countries, including Italy, Russia, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Norway, Thailand, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.