Charolette Bushue alleges that her son, Myles, was bullied by one of the new kids on the Charleston team before the begining of a football game.
The new kids expressed that Myles acts like retard, which broke Charlotte’s mom’s heart.
In the world of sports, true victory is often measured by the courage, dedication, and joy an athlete brings to the game. Myles Bushue is a remarkable young man from Charleston who embodies this spirit completely.
Myles has Down syndrome, and he is a celebrated athlete whose accomplishments inspire his community and redefine what it means to be a winner.
He is a valued member of his high school football team and experiences the camaraderie, discipline, and thrill of competition alongside his peers.
Furthermore, his athletic prowess extends beyond the gridiron and has been a decorated track and field champion.
His hard work and talent shone brightly at the State Special Olympics, where he secured a gold medal in the mini javelin throw.
A Mother’s Heartbreak When a Cruel Slur Shattered the Game
Social media feeds flood with the same well-intentioned message, “Talk to your kids about not bullying,” at the beginning of every school year.
For parents like Charolette Bushue, that constant refrain had become tiresome until the day it became her devastating reality.
During a youth football game, a moment of cruel ignorance unfolded.
A new player on the Charleston team targeted Charolette’s son, Myles, using a horrific slur. The words landed like a physical blow.
21 looks and acts like a retard.
New Kid on Charleston Team
In a heartfelt Facebook post, she described her mommy’s heart breaking, followed by a surge of protective anger.
Yet, she channeled that raw emotion into a powerful revelation about the actual failure in our communities.
It wasn’t just the act of bullying that struck her, but it was the silence that potentially surrounded it.
Her post highlights a critical gap in teaching and reminds us that if anyone sees bullying, they have to speak up and tell them it’s not cool. Bad things happen when good people do nothing.
Moreover, her perspective shifted from anger to a painful empathy. She realized the young boy who uttered the slur likely hadn’t learned the life lesson yet.
He may have been sheltered from different types of people and never taught that such words reveal his own character, not his target’s. He hadn’t learned the strength and celebration found within communities he was taught to mock.
However, the story ends with healing. The incident was reported to the head coach, who promised to discipline and educate the new player.
Most importantly, by the game’s end, the Charleston team rallied around Myles, playing alongside him in the final two minutes.
I am still a fan of the Charleston team and the coaches, and even if they didnt do this I would still be a fan of the Charleston team. But God was definitely testing me this day for sure.
Charolette Bushue
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Charolette Bushue studied accounting at Eastern Illinois University and graduated in 2024.
- She has been in a romantic relationship with Zak Apke.
