Kimberly Jones, the mother of bullied-kid-turned-viral-star Keaton Jones, says she’s “not racist” despite Facebook posts of the Confederate flag and a screed that appeared to target African-Americans. Not everyone believes her.
Some African-Americans were skeptical of her apology on “Good Morning America” Tuesday, including actor D.L. Hughley: “It’s not a shock #KimberlyJones fooled everyone!” he tweeted. “Hell we’ve been getting tricked by racists since that first boat ride!
Internet sleuths uncovered the photos soon after Keaton Jones’ anti-bullying video went viral, gaining 20 million page views. It inspired a GoFundMe page that was suspended Monday after the backlash over racism accusations against Kimberly Jones.
The Root editor Breanna Edwards wrote: “Kimberly Jones attempted to sort through all the backlash by using the good old ‘anyone who knows me … knows I’m not racist’ excuse.”
And Damon Young, editor-in-chief of The Root’s Very Smart Brothas, penned an opinion piece calling the Keaton Jones saga “the Most 2017 story of 2017.”
“It contains every element that has made 2017 2017. A viral video about a hot-button topic? Check! The nation’s sympathy elicited despite no one really having all of the details? Check! Working class white people? Check! Working class white people receiving a sympathy and financial support that people of color in similar circumstances have gone without? Check! A parent shamelessly recording and publishing a child’s most vulnerable moment for likes and retweets? Check!”
He wasn’t persuaded by Kimberly Jones explanation that the Confederate flag posts were meant to be “ironic and funny and extreme.”
“An initial spotlight on a legitimate serious issue stretched, in less than 48 hours, to a white woman on ‘Good Morning America’ explaining away her ironic racism? Check!” he wrote.
Kimberly Jones said on “Good Morning America” that she regretted the posts.
“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,” Jones told “Good Morning America” on Tuesday. “I mean, people that know us, know us.”
Keaton Jones’ anti-bullying video led many celebrities to rally around him, including “Captain America” actor Chris Evans, who invited Keaton Jones to next year’s premiere of “Avengers: Infinity War.” But fellow “Avengers” star Don Cheadle questioned Kimberly Jones’ motives.
“Exploiting her son and feeding him garbage and getting his ass beat in the bargain,” Cheadle wrote on Twitter. “Should be criminal.”
Joseph Lam, the New Jersey man behind the GoFundMe account, raised nearly three times his $20,000 target before halting the campaign because of the backlash. He told TheWrap on Monday he hopes to set up a college fund for Keegan Jones.
“I would like to do a college fund for the kid, it’s not the kid’s fault,” he told TheWrap.
You can see some of the responses on Twitter to Kimberly’s interview below.
It’s not a shock #KimberlyJones fooled everyone! Hell we’ve been getting tricked by racists since that first boat ride! #TeamDl
The reason why bullied white children like Keaton Jones can garner countless celebrity love and thousands of dollars in donations is because we live in a society where black & brown children are dehumanized and criminalized in their youth & schools.
Kimberly Jones went on GMA this morning to clear up why she posted pics of her and her family having fun with the C.K. federate flag. She says she was simply “being funny” and anyone you ask will say she’s not racist. Girl, ya racist. Police have confirm… https://t.co/n0qV78DBZ3pic.twitter.com/ThgAzyNra1
Here's Who Should Play the Kids From 'It' as Adults in 'Chapter 2' (and Who Really Is Playing Them)
Stephen King's novel "It" is actually two parallel stories, about a group of seven kids fighting the monstrous clown Pennywise, and then returning to finish the job as adults. With "It: Chapter One" a huge horror movie success, here's who we think should pick up the reins in "It: Chapter Two."
Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher): Edward Norton
An essential part of Bill Denbrough is that, as a child, he struggled with a stuttering problem. Jaeden Lieberher did a solid job dealing with the stutter as the leader of the Losers Club. Edward Norton, who has a decent physical resemblance to Lieberher, has proven to be one of the best stutterers possibly ever in his turn in the 1996 thriller “Primal Fear.” When he returns to Derry, the stutter does to, giving Norton a chance to deploy those skills again.
Jaeden Lieberher’s Choice: Christian Bale
During an interview with Moviefone, the "It: Chapter One" cast discussed their picks for who would play their adult counterparts. Lieberher said he’d like for Christian Bale to play the grown-up version of Bill, and Bale is known for taking tough acting roles. He’s got few that might qualify as horror, though, and hasn’t ever had to act scared of a demonic clown or its many other manifestations. But nobody let him wear the 2018 equivalent of 1990 Bill’s ponytail, which one assumes would be a manbun.
Actually playing Bill Denbrough: James McAvoy
Bill's quiet leadership fits pretty well with James McAvoy's aesthetic in a lot of movies, especially his recent superhero turn as Professor X in the "X-Men" movies. He can also pull out some deep creepiness, as we saw in the M. Night Shyamalan vehicle "Split," making McAvoy an interesting choice to fight the evil Pennywise.
Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis): Amy Adams
It’s actually a bit weird how much Sophia Lillis looks like Amy Adams, selling her as the grown-up version of Beverly. Lillis’ turn as Bev was actually a more brave and often heroic version than in the 1990 adaptation, and Adams’ experience as Lois Lane in “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and as an alien researcher in “Arrival” would probably be valuable.
Sophia Lillis’ Choice: Jessica Chastain
Chastain is also a pretty good look-alike for Lillis, and her work definitely suggests she could handle both being very afraid of an evil clown and gritting her teeth in order to fight it. She’s also got some horror chops, having taken a turn adding creepiness to the situation in Guillermo del Toro’s “Crimson Peak.”
Actually cast as Beverly Marsh: Jessica Chastain
Sophia Lillis obviously knows what she's talking about when it comes to adult Beverly, since Chastain really is taking on the role.
Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor): Chris Hemsworth
In “It,” the 1990 TV movie adaptation, Ben is an overweight kid but gets in shape in his teens. He comes back as John Ritter, looking pretty good in a vest and beard. The ultimate “grew up to be hot” transformation for “It” would be Chris Hemsworth taking on the role of Ben. It might be overdoing it a little, but it would give Hemsworth a chance to fight some horror movie monsters after getting epicly offed in “Cabin in the Woods.”
Jeremy Ray Taylor’s Choice: Chris Pratt
Since he actually played the character, Taylor might actually have the better sense for casting here. Pratt transformed his body pretty significantly for his role in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. He’d have to resist being the group’s funnyman, though --that’s not Ben, and the role is already filled by Richie.
Actually cast as Ben Hanscom: Jay Ryan
New Zealand native Jay Ryan will take on the role of older Ben, which might not be as cool as becoming Thor, but still a solid glow up for the kid. Ryan is probably best known for his role in "Beauty and the Beast" on the CW, and previously appeared on Sundance TV and BBC 2's mystery "Top of the Lake."
Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard): Paul Rudd
Jokester Richie Tozier grows up to be a radio disc jockey in King’s novel, famous for doing a variety of voices. In the 1990 adaptation, he’s a stand-up comic, and in both versions he’s pretty successful. Rudd’s a proven comedian with plenty of drama chops as well, and he’s fought at least one monster in his movie career, taking on Michael Myers in “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.”
Finn Wolfhard’s Choice: Bill Hader
Bill Hader was actually my first choice too, but Wolfhard stole it. As a “Saturday Night Live” alum, Hader can definitely handle Richie’s humor, and he and Wolfhard actually look a lot alike. In fact, Hader is kind of perfect for the role, and it’d be an interesting change of pace to see him outside of a comedy.
Actually cast as Richie Tozier: Bill Hader
Like Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard nailed his casting idea. "SNL" alumnus Bill Hader looks quite a bit like Richie. The novel version of adult Richie wears contacts instead of Coke bottle glasses, but if the movie gave Hader the spectacles, he'd really look like Finn Wolfhard's grown-up counterpart.
Mike Hanlon (Chosen Jacobs): Jordan Peele
In the book and 1990 adaptation, Mike Hanlon is the only member of the Losers Club who stays in Derry. He works as a librarian and keeps watch in case Pennywise ever shows back up in town. Mike’s role might change in “It: Chapter Two,” since the historian role he plays in the book fell to Ben in the movie, but Peele could still pull off the bookish but determined version of Hanlon. Plus, Peele’s a major horror fan.
Chosen Jacobs' Choice: Chadwick Boseman
If the kids from “It: Chapter One” have their way, two Marvel superheroes will show up in the Losers Club, which doesn’t sound very loser-y. That said, Boseman would definitely bring the role the gravitas that Mike needs as the “lighthouse keeper” who’s waiting for the monster, and who manages to reunite the Losers and convince them to keep their promises.
Actually cast as Mike Hanlon: Isaiah Mustafa
Isaiah Mustafa is probably best known for his role as Luke Garroway on Freeform's "Shadowhunters," and as the ripped Old Spice Guy who isn't Terry Crews. Chosen Jacobs announced the casting on his Instagram feed.
Eddie Kaspbrak (Jack Dylan Grazer): David Tennant
In “It,” Eddie is a smaller kid whose mother abuses him for his entire life by constantly trying to make him believe he’s sick. As a skinnier guy, Tennant has a similar physicality, but he’s also proven he can handle the mix of horror and comedy Jack Dylan Grazer brings to the role in the movie with his role in “Fright Night.”
Jack Dylan Grazer’s Choice: Jake Gyllenhaal
Gyllenhaal is also a pretty good fit for Eddie’s future self. He can handle Eddie’s hypochondriac intensity and can handle both the comedy aspects and the horrified freaking out that Grazer brings the character, and it helps that the pair have a similar look.
Actually cast as Eddie Kaspbrak: James Ransone
The real Eddie, James Ransone, brings some horror chops to "IT: Chapter 2." Ransone has done some monster hunting in the past as the deputy from "Sinister" and "Sinister 2."
Stan Uris (Wyatt Oleff): Zach Braff
Of all the Losers, Stan Uris has the toughest time dealing with what he’s seen of the creature, and he’s come the closest of any of the kids to death. That’s a bit of neurosis that Braff could definitely handle as he struggles to come to grips with the promise he made and the need to return to Derry.
Wyatt Oleff’s Choice: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Another good pick from the “It” kids, Gordon-Levitt is definitely someone could handle Stan’s overwhelming fear of Pennywise pretty effectively as an actor. We could also stand to see him back in a horror movie after his stint in “Halloween: H20” back in 1998.
Actually cast as Stan Uris: Andy Bean
Andy Bean is set to take on the role of Stan in "IT: Chapter 2," and he has some genre chops to bring with him. Bean has had roles in "Allegiant" and "Transformers: The Last Knight," and also as one of the main cast in the Starz show "Power" for the first three seasons.
Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton): Michael C. Hall
If you thought local bully and homicidal pre-teen Henry Bowers died in "IT: Chapter 1," you weren't the only one. Apparently, Henry's fate is a little more undetermined. If Henry returns for more homicide attempts against the adult losers, we think Michael C. Hall's turn as a killer in "Dexter" would be useful prep. Hall will need to bring it a great deal more wild-eyed malevolence than he did Dexter, though.
Actually cast as Henry Bowers: Teach Grant
The reason we know Henry survived the events of "IT: Chapter 1" is because Teach Grant will be playing him. Grant is also bringing a lot of horror movie experience to the proceedings, having appeared in "The Tall Man," "Leprechaun Origins," and "Devour." He recently also appeared in Netflix's sci-fi series "Altered Carbon."
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Let’s do some casting inspired by Stephen King’s classic horror novel
Stephen King's novel "It" is actually two parallel stories, about a group of seven kids fighting the monstrous clown Pennywise, and then returning to finish the job as adults. With "It: Chapter One" a huge horror movie success, here's who we think should pick up the reins in "It: Chapter Two."
