3-Year-Old Boy Called “Ginger & Ugly’ By Bullies Has Heartbreaking Reaction

One of the problems that many of us have to face in today’s society is bullying. Although it is a problem that many people equate to the schoolyard and young children, it is a common problem in many areas of life, including the workplace and sometimes, even in our own family. From time to time, however, we hear about a story that really makes us stop and think about the seriousness of the situation.

This story happened when the three-year-old boy talked to his mom about his ‘horrible’ hair. It turns out he had been bullied for being a redhead and his response to the situation has gone viral. It was shared by his mother, Lauren Russell, after she witnessed Noah Gilbert, her son, being picked on over his hair color. This 28-year-old mother from Southhampton got on a bus with her son and teenagers started making fun of his ginger hair.

The comments were fueled with statements such as, “I would hate my child to be ginger, I would kill it” and “all kids with ginger hair should go straight to social services.”

Although Noah was only three years old, he understood what was being said and got upset about it later.

He wondered why he couldn’t be blonde like Charlie, his brother. When he asked his brother why he had horrible hair, his brother said that it wasn’t horrible, it was beautiful!




The mother was so upset over the situation that she posted the story on social media in an outrage. She wrote: ‘He hasn’t stopped asking me why people don’t like his hair. He asked me if I could change it for him so people will like it. I can feel my heart breaking every time he asks me.

It isn’t okay to bully somebody for their hair colour, not now. Not ever.’

Support from others and pictures of redhaired children have filled the comments of her post and it has been liked more than 18,000 times. Some even say that he looks like Ed Shearin, Damien Lewis or Prince Harry.

His mother said: ‘This has had such an effect on Noah, it’s just unfair. I have naturally ginger hair too and I remember being bullied growing up, but not as young as three.’ Noah is now really aware of his hair colour and thinks it’s horrible.




He doesn’t understand why he isn’t blond like his siblings. I couldn’t believe these spiteful teenagers could upset my son like that.’

She added: ‘Since sharing what happened on Facebook, I’ve had hundreds of people messaging me from the UK, all showing support and saying how gorgeous Noah is. When I read all the nice comments to him, his face was priceless.

‘I hope he’ll be able to forget the nasty remarks now, but I still want an apology from the teenage boy. I’ve already contacted the high school he goes to so that he can say sorry to Noah in person.’




This mother has Noah as well as Charlie, who is five years old. She is also the mother of seven month old twins, Zachary and Jacob. All of her children are fair headed.

Noah says that his hair is ‘orange’ but he had never been upset about it before.’

You can read Lauren’s powerful and heartbreaking post below.

Today my heart broke in two.

Whilst travelling on a public bus number 12 I witnessed such cruel behaviour towards my 3 year old son from a very narrow minded boy who couldn’t be much older than 13. Unfortunately this hasn’t been the first time and I know it won’t be the last.




He’s been targeted by people of all ages.”

And what for? Because he has ginger hair. My beautiful boy was told social services should have taken him away because his hair colour is disgusting.

The boy then turned to his friend and said if he ever had a ginger child he would kill it.

Now my little boy is only 3 and was left very confused. I feel devastated as I too have ginger hair and [know] all too well what it’s like to grow up being singled out/ the target of such bullies.

He hasn’t stopped asking me why people don’t like his hair.

He asked me if I could change it for him so people will like it. He asked me if he could be like his brother who doesn’t have ginger hair.




I can feel my heart breaking every time he asks me.

My little boy looks so sad and I want to make it better. The reason I am trying to go public with this is because I know these cruel bullies are in the minority.

I want to show my little boy that there is more good in this world than bad.

There are kind and caring non judgmental people who won’t ever single him out. I ask you all to please share this and show my boy how beautiful he is.

I want to show him the good in this world with the power of Facebook.

It isn’t okay to bully somebody for their hair colour, not now. Not ever. Thank you.”

We believe every child is beautiful in their own way. If you agree, share this powerful story on Facebook.