This has turned out to be quite thecelebrity-kindness-to-a-kidweek and how refreshing it is to see. Case in point. The story about Brody Ridder, a 12-year-old Colorado boy, made headlines back in May after word had spread that kids refused to sign his yearbook. Since that time, he has received a tremendous outpouring of love and support from far and wide. Most recently fromPaul Rudd,Ant-Manhimself. The actor first reached out to the boy bysending a signedAnt-Manhelmet, along with a letter that reads:
“It’s important to remember that even when life is tough that things get better. There are so many people that love you and think you’re the coolest kid there is -me being one of them! I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’re going to accomplish.”
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According to Cassandra Ridder, Brody’s mother, Rudd has since Face-Timed her son, and they’ve texted, too.
Little did Brody know how his life would change after his mother picked him up from school on May 24. A student at Academy of Charter Schools, Brody had been struggling socially since his two years at the school and had been repeatedly bullied. Earlier that day, Cassandra Ridder received an email informing her that students would be bringing yearbooks home. When she asked her son if he got lots of signatures, his eyes filled with tears. Two teachers and two students wrote in his yearbook while most answered with a flat-out “no.”
Ridder revealed that Brody loves to play chess, fencing and dinosaurs, sits alone at lunch, and plays by himself at recess. She added that her son’s peers don’t really understand his interests and have trouble relating to him. Not long after Ridder made Brody’s plight public, local high school students banded together to sign his yearbook and the story reached and touched the hearts of thousands throughout the country. The Broadway cast ofDear Evan Hanseninvited him to New York City to catch the show, requesting he brings his yearbook along for them to sign. CVS mailed Brody a summer fun pack and GoPro sent a camera. Countless companies and people have also contacted the family. And now, Brody Ridder can addAnt-Manamong his list of friends.
