- Speaking in a short video clip posted on social media, Connolly said he had no regrets over the incident
- Twitter users hailed the teenager for standing up to racism, and many have created fan art to show their support
LONDON: A teenager who egged an Australian politician blaming Muslim immigration for the New Zealand terror attack on two mosques is being celebrated by social media users who are using the trending Twitter hashtag #Eggboyhero.
Will Connolly, 17, egged Australian senator Fraser Anning midway through a press conference in Melbourne, a day after Anning’s controversial comments. Connolly’s Instagram now has more than 241,000 followers and his Twitter feed is flooded with fans calling him a “hero”.
Speaking in a short video clip posted on social media, Connolly said he had no regrets: “Don’t egg a politician, you’ll get tackled by 30 bogans at the same time, I learned the hard way,” he added.
Twitter users hailed the teenager for standing up to racism, and many have created fan art to show their support.
In response, Connolly tweeted “I am overwhelmed by all your messages and support! THANK YOU, #egg boy #WillConnolly.”
Twitter user @yasinshahz wrote “Some time just an egg make you world famous and a superstar this is the power of humanity and respect of religions #EggBoyHero you are an other Nelson Mandela. (sic)”
@617SoftwareGuy said that Connolly deserved “a shoutout”. He added that: “Anybody who stands up to white nationalism and racism like this, in a “somewhat” non-violent way (note the response from the guy was to throw haymakers) deserves to be given kudos…”
@official_alajmi tweeted with fan art of Connolly. He wrote “#EggBoyHero Not all the heroes wore a super cool mask and costume , Some of them throw eggs.”
@iAhsanBaig, meanwhile, wrote: “In a world of terrorists , be an Egg boy. #EggBoyHero.”
@Kemre1312 said: “You have won the hearts of mankind! #EggBoyHero.”
@FelicityGP asked whether Anning was to blame for the egging incident according to his way of thinking: “If Fraser Anning thinks that Muslims are to blame for the violence enacted against themselves, then isn’t HE to blame for the egg-violence enacted against himself?”