From globeandmail.com:
TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUE. -- As Ghyslain Raza recalled, whenever he walked by his high school's common areas, other students would jump on tables and chant, "Star Wars Kid! Star Wars Kid!"
There would be a commotion as they shouted and poked at him, trying to get a reaction. "It was simply unbearable," he said.
An otherwise ordinary teen in this Quebec small town, Mr. Raza had become a worldwide object of ridicule when schoolmates put on the Internet a video of him clumsily pretending to be a Star Wars character.
Three years later, Mr. Raza and his parents this week reached an out-of-court settlement with the families of three former schoolmates they had sued for $351,000 in damages.
The settlement annuls a civil trial set to begin on Monday that would have scrutinized one of the world's first and most-publicized cases of cyber-bullying.
However, documents filed in the case at the Trois-Rivières courthouse give new details about how a mean-spirited high-school prank turned into a global Internet cause célèbre.
Specifics of the settlement remain confidential.
Okay, so my sympathy went down about a thousand points when I found out he was a Canadian, but people don't yell at me, screaming, "Wizbang Pop! kid! Wizbang Pop! kid!" Because, if they did, I'd get out my light-saber and chop 'em to pieces!
With my light-saber.
Because I have one, you know.
A light-saber.
I do.
I'll chop you to pieces with it, I will.
'Star Wars Kid' Sues, Settles Lawsuit Over Web Video - [NewsBusters]
Star Wars Kid Videos - [Screaming Pickle]
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Comments (8)
Mac, does that mean I bette... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Jay Tea | April 8, 2006 8:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Mac, does that mean I better not post any more Sharon Stone stuff, unless I wanna get cut in half?
J.
1. Posted by Jay Tea | April 8, 2006 8:27 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 8, 2006 20:27
2. Posted by don surber | April 8, 2006 10:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I never understood the video. It was mean-spirited. I hope he got a nice settlement.
2. Posted by don surber | April 8, 2006 10:15 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 8, 2006 22:15
3. Posted by ClobberGirl | April 9, 2006 12:02 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So let me get this straight: (1) He made the videotape willingly, and (2) He himself left it in a public facility where anyone could get their hands on it.
And now he gets $350,000?! For what, being a dork?
What a whiner.
3. Posted by ClobberGirl | April 9, 2006 12:02 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 9, 2006 00:02
4. Posted by a canuk | April 9, 2006 11:30 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
and your sympathy went down because he was a canadian because???? you don't like your canadian readers or what?
4. Posted by a canuk | April 9, 2006 11:30 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 9, 2006 11:30
5. Posted by Maureen | April 9, 2006 4:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
ClobberGirl, I'm with you on this. I hate that people sue and get cash for the stupid things that they do.
5. Posted by Maureen | April 9, 2006 4:29 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 9, 2006 16:29
6. Posted by Cro | April 10, 2006 11:40 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
C'mon the fat little bastard will need the money cause Christ knows he's never gonna get laid any other way...
6. Posted by Cro | April 10, 2006 11:40 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 10, 2006 11:40
7. Posted by Special K | April 16, 2006 1:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I like the videos that people have made of the Starwars kid, I think they are funny as hell. The kid needs to take his settlement and go see a shrink, so that he can learn to make something like this a good thing, find a way to flip the situation, because you know he will never live it down
7. Posted by Special K | April 16, 2006 1:28 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 16, 2006 13:28
8. Posted by Momo | May 10, 2006 3:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It might be emberrasing as heck, but the kid really needs to learn how to make lemonade when he gets lemons. There was an online petition to place him in Star Wars episode 3.
His celebrity status could be as big as Paris Hilton. He needs to get a publicist with his money. Which he doesn't deserve. I believe the video what shot on school grounds, with school property, there for public domain.
8. Posted by Momo | May 10, 2006 3:42 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 10, 2006 15:42