Paul Rudd becomes friends with bullied kid whose classmates wouldn’t sign his yearbook

Paul Rudd proved last year that he really cares about people with his act of kindness. A mother, Cassandra Ridder, posted on a parenting group (now deleted) that most of her child’s classmates refused to sign his yearbook. And while that might sound like a small middle-school slight, research shows peer rejection at that age can cut much deeper. According to a study done in 2016, about 10% to 15% of students experience active rejection by classmates, and those children are significantly more likely to struggle with anxiety, low self-esteem, and depressive symptoms.

Many people around the world showed support for the 11-year-old, and so did actor Paul Rudd, which later made many high school students come to his classroom and sign his yearbook during class. He sent Brody a signed Ant-Man helmet with a personal note which read, “To my good friend Brody for when he takes on the world!,” as reported by GOD.

Rudd also sent a letter in which he mentioned that “it was great talking to him the other day.” He goes on to say, “It’s important to remember that even when life is tough, things get better. So many people love you and think you’re the coolest kid there is – me being one of them!” He concludes it by saying, “I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’re going to accomplish.” Rudd signed off the letter as “your pal, Paul.”

Brody’s mother, Ridder, said that the two have been exchanging messages and have also FaceTimed each other. Many on Twitter applauded the actor for what he did. A Twitter user wrote, “In a world where you can simply not care about someone in pain because you don't know them from a hole in the wall... ...be Paul Rudd.”Another wrote, “Paul Rudd is a national treasure.” A third one said, “He really seems lovely, doesn’t he!?”

This article originally appeared 3 years ago.