It seems like the solution to this problem should be more in the category of "make sure the kids aren't being a--holes to him," but that's just our opinion.
Grayson Bruce, a 9-year-old boy from North Carolina, isn't allowed to bring his My Little Pony backpack to school anymore because it was deemed too "girly" for him and it supposedly became a "trigger for bullying."
Now, we're all for protecting children from bullies. But this seems more like a punishment than a precaution.
Grayson told WSBTV than kids were beating him up and calling him names just because he carried a My Little Pony backpack. His mother, Noreen Bruce, revealed that Buncombe County Schools officials told Grayson to leave the backpack at home so they could "immediately address a situation that had created a disruption in the classroom."
Yeah, the bullies created the disruption. Maybe they should be kept at home until they stop pushing around a kid for carrying a backpack that's different from their own.
"They're taking it a little too far with you know, punching me and pushing me down, calling me horrible names. Stuff that really shouldn't happen," Grayson said.
Now, we've learned a lot of things about TV fandoms during our years in the entertainment world. And one of the things we learned early on is that the My Little Pony fanbase, also known as Bronies, are not to be messed with. Ever. So when they heard about what Grayson was going through, they mobilized.
A Change.org petition was started so Grayson would be allowed to carry the backback from his favorite TV show. A Facebook page was created as well to support Grayson, with a message that reads: "We hope this page can offer support and shine light on a serious issue! Bullying needs to stop and we need to empower children to be who they are!"
A United States Navy officer even reached out to send an encouraging note to Grayson.
"I'm sorry about what happened, but just keep your chin up, stay strong, and don't let anybody change who you are," Petty Officer Dorr says in his video (posted below).
Grayson, you are awesome. The fact that you love a TV show that other people don't should not make you a target for bullies.
You can watch WSBTV's news segment on Grayson below: