Twitter Scrambles To Hail Teen 'Hero' Who Egged Anti-Muslim Aussie Senator
Twitter fans are hailing the “hero” teen who egged an Australian politician for blaming Islamic immigrants for the horrific attack on two New Zealand mosques that killed 50 Muslims.
The 17-year-old smashed an egg on the back of the head of Queensland Senator Fraser Anning — on camera — as Anning was speaking to the press in Melbourne Saturday. The senator then turned and struck the boy in the face — twice — and the teen was tackled by Anning’s confederates, including far-right leader Neil Erikson, according to a reporter on the scene.
Police detained the teen, but he was released without charges. Victoria police said in a statement that an investigation is continuing, including into behavior by Anning and “others.”
Now the teen, who has not been identified by authorities, is an internet sensation. Supporters have launched a GoFundMe “Money for EggBoi” page to raise funds for legal fees and “more eggs.” By Saturday evening $17,000 had been donated (the goal was $2,000). Several bands offered him life-time concert seats on Twitter.
The teen is now part of a history of Australian egging. He was wearing a T-shirt with the same year (in Roman numerals) of a famous 1917 incident when Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes was egged in Queensland while he campaigned for conscription to help the British war effort.
But the new hero seemed to have second thoughts about his political statement in what appeared to be a selfie video. “Don’t egg a politician,” he warned. “You’ll be tackled by 30 brogans at the same time. I learned the hard way.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that Parliament would pass a motion next month censuring Anning for his statements about the Christchurch attack. “I would normally not want to give this any oxygen, but I want to absolutely and completely denounce the statements made by Senator Anning,” said Morrison.
Anning blamed the Christchurch attack on the “increasing Muslim presence” in Australia and New Zealand. “Muslims may have been the victims today, usually they are the perpetrators,” he said in his controversial statement.
And not all heroes wear capes#EggBoy pic.twitter.com/313Ur6nGNl
— lawyer X (@avkathanimkizim) March 16, 2019
I believe one (1) hero can defeat thanos #eggboy pic.twitter.com/Y2UL2lwER2
— Marcelina saw CM ✨ (@mintbynoon) March 16, 2019
So this guy threw an egg at an Australian politician cause he said that Muslims were the cause of the Christchurch shootings
And we stan #eggboy pic.twitter.com/CKoEt0ZSp6— Zachdaboss (@Zachdaboss3) March 16, 2019
Saddle the horses. Send messengers far and wide to search the land for the mysterious Egg Boy, whose throw is precise, whose judgement is sound, and whose courage is infinite. For as with Arthur and the Excalibur sword, only he shall lead us out of the darkness.
— Maxine Beneba Clarke (@slamup) March 16, 2019
A teenager has egged Senator Fraser Anning following his disgusting comments in the wake of the Christchurch shooting.
Australia has a new hero, thank you #eggboy pic.twitter.com/j47BGzFNdI— Irrfan Khan🇵🇰 (@IrrfanK88813750) March 16, 2019
Just on Egg Boy: Tonight I was talking to Ali, a young Muslim who prays at Al Noor, outside the Christchurch hospital. Mid convo he goes "Hey did you see the video of the Queensland senator getting hit by the egg?", pulls out his phone, plays it, and says "That made my day".
— Lane Sainty (@lanesainty) March 16, 2019
Beneath this mask there is an idea... and ideas are bulletproof#eggboy pic.twitter.com/ZfhiwbMuvL
— Berfin (@Berfiinphalange) March 16, 2019
The hero we all needed#eggboy pic.twitter.com/ovdNOlOtCY
— tinyelbows (@tinyelbows_) March 16, 2019
Big shout out to #eggboy
If you're ever in Scotland, there's a pint your name on it mate.
Evil only succeeds when good men do nothing.
Well done lad. Bravo. https://t.co/C7vTYXmbg2— Fosh (@foshtown) March 16, 2019
This is what Fraser Anning’s right-wing lads did to the boy. #auspol #FraserAnning pic.twitter.com/sJNzRLppG5
— Paul Barry (@TheRealPBarry) March 16, 2019
After the 17-year-old boy who egged Anning was violently gang-tackled to the ground by 5-6 men including Neil Erikson, @10NewsFirstMelb reporter and I asked the men to stop digging their knees and elbows into the boy and let him up after he was clearly restrained @theage
— Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) March 16, 2019
has anyone else noticed that egg teen's shirt has the year of australia's famous "egg throwing incident" on it in roman numerals? could be a coincidence, but interesting nonetheless! could it be.... an easter egg???? pic.twitter.com/2u550T3YXq
— Eleanor Robertson (@marrowing) March 16, 2019
#eggboy deserves justice pic.twitter.com/PVhZpbIbaf
— Moe🇾🇪 (@moe_audi) March 16, 2019
I am raising an army to fight fascists #eggboy pic.twitter.com/ODvNRuaGyT
— Jack Russell (@JackSmith74WA) March 16, 2019
Celebrities please incentivize teen antifascism thank you https://t.co/8d8NyeG1zX
— Malcolm Harris (@BigMeanInternet) March 16, 2019
Our young hero has spoken “don’t egg a politician, you’ll tackled by 30 bogans at the same time, I learnt the hard way. Fuck” 😂 we Stan #Eggboy Will Connolly, nonetheless 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/nAUDuKSMP0
— ☀️ (@chuseeme) March 16, 2019
Related. coverage
Australian Senator Blames Muslims For New Zealand Mosque Shooting
Senator Who Blamed Muslims For New Zealand Shootings Strikes Teen After Egging
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.