From Russell Crowe to Arsenal, Twitter celebrities unite to wish bullied 9-year-old Ollie ahead of his birthday

Sometimes you ask Twitter for a favour and everyone from football clubs and Olympic athletes to astronauts and Hollywood celebrities heed your call. That’s right! While the social media platform has often been slammed for abusive comments and trolls, there are occasions when it shows that its users there still have a heart. Thursday was such a day. It all started with a concerned father from Leeds, Chris Hope-Smith, launching an appeal on Twitter asking people to send positive messages to his bullied son, Ollie.

Soon, a flurry of celebrities and football teams responded to the appeal sending birthday greetings to the boy who turns nine on 5 July. The original tweet has already been retweeted more than 17,000 times with thousands sending in messages of support. Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United all joined in wishing the young boy.

Have a fantastic birthday Ollie! 🎂

From everybody here at Manchester United. #MUFC ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/dttRyTq3IW

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 30, 2017

Happy 9th birthday Ollie from everyone @ManCity! 👍💪#mcfc

— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 29, 2017

Hopefully we can help #passonthepositive, Christopher 👏

Have a brilliant 9th birthday Ollie, from all of us here at Arsenal 🎈 pic.twitter.com/vucpAdtqx6

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 29, 2017

The England national football team’s went a step ahead, offering free tickets to a game in September.

Happy birthday, Ollie! 🎂

Fancy coming to see us in September? Let us know and we'll make it happen. 👍

— England (@England) June 29, 2017

Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann too joined in.

Hey Ollie, you are ace and will always win at life because your own superhero is an amazing Dad. Happy birthday, save me some cake!

— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) June 29, 2017

Hollywood star Russell Crowe sent his wishes. After all, as General Maximus in the blockbuster Gladiator, “what we do in life… echoes in eternity.”

Hey Ollie, heard it was your birthday. 9 years old eh? Congratulations, Happy Birthday !!

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) June 29, 2017

British Olympic racewalker Tom Bosworth, who is also based in Leeds, even offered Ollie some Great Britain Olympic gear.

Hi Chris, saw ur message. Im not really famous but saw you're Leeds based so please send Ollie a big happy birthday from a Leeds Olympian!

— Tom Bosworth MBE (@TomBosworth) June 29, 2017

DM me your private details and maybe on his birthday I can meet you guys and give Ollie some Olympic team GB kit?

— Tom Bosworth MBE (@TomBosworth) June 29, 2017

British 2012 Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill spoke out against the bullies.

Happy Birthday Ollie. Hope you have a great birthday. We've all been there with bullies, never let them win. Enjoy your day 🎂🎉

— Dame Jess Ennis-Hill (@J_Ennis) June 30, 2017

Another message which must have sent Ollie over the moon was from astronaut Tim Peake.

Hope your 9th birthday is out of this world Ollie. Just remember - a bully is a person too scared to do the right thing. Aim high dude! 🚀

— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) June 29, 2017

The Simpsons artist Eric Keyes sent him a message in the only way he knew how.

Happy Birthday Ollie from a guy on @TheSimpsons who's not quite famous but draws a kid who is =) I hope you have an AWESOME day! pic.twitter.com/f7itI4XdfW

— Eric Keyes (@monkeyes) June 29, 2017

Other famous names who sent their wishes to the schoolboy included American activist Monica Lewinsky and former Labour party leader Ed Miliband.

happy birthday, ollie! 🎂we're rooting for you to have a gr8 day... + rooting for you always. hang in there! pic.twitter.com/EhG2HqGb2K

— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) June 29, 2017

Ollie---have a great birthday. You've got a great Dad. And remember people are really lucky to have you as a friend.

— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) June 29, 2017

  Later, Ollie’s mother thanked everyone on Twitter seemingly “overwhelmed by everyone’s kind thoughts”.