“Egg Boy” Plans to Donate Funds Raised for Him to Victims of Christchurch Terror Attack
Screencap via YouTubeLast week, after the white supremacist terror attack that left 49 dead and many more injured at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, conservative Queensland, Australia, senator Fraser Anning tweeted:
Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?
— Senator Fraser Anning (@fraser_anning) March 15, 2019
He doubled down on this Islamaphobic sentiment in a later statement, adding, “The real cause of the bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration programme which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.”
While many—including Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison—condemned the senator’s statements as “appalling” and “ugly,” it was 17-year-old Will Connolly who decided that the yolk was mightier than the pen. Connolly found Anning speaking at a Conservative National Party Meeting in Melbourne on Saturday, and earned himself a new nickname.
Someone has just slapped an egg on the back of Australian Senator Fraser Anning’s head, who immediately turned around and punched him in the face. @politicsabc@abcnewspic.twitter.com/HkDZe2rn0X
— Henry Belot (@Henry_Belot) March 16, 2019
Egg Boy became an overnight sensation, garnering millions of views and worldwide attention. Within 24 hours, he had even spawned imitators: Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was over-easy-ed just hours later.
No Brasil, em vez de #eggboy, temos uma heroína #egggirl. pic.twitter.com/BeyFHxEIQR
— ubique (@PersonalEscrito) March 17, 2019
After Connolly’s identity was revealed, he began receiving offers for free concert tickets, a dedicated street art mural and, of course, a GoFundMe support campaign. Although no charges were filed against Connolly, the crowdfunding page aimed to help out with his legal fees and supply him with more eggs.
#EggBoy has made headlines around the world and now a street artist has painted a mural of the 17-year-old egging Senator @fraser_anning. The painting went up in Hosier Lane overnight. @9NewsMelb@9NewsAUSpic.twitter.com/vWl4SGicH5
— Sam Cucchiara (@SamCucchiara9) March 18, 2019
Connolly has been in touch with the owners of the GoFundMe page, and has said that the majority of the proceeds should be donated instead to the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks.
Needless to say, Connolly’s egging of the openly Islamophobic senator has been a considerable high point in the wake of white supremacist violence in New Zealand, and his generosity in donating raised funds to the victims makes him nothing short of a folk hero.