Kid Who Confronted Bullies in Viral YouTube Video Comes to the White House

ByABC News
July 21, 2015, 4:38 PM

— -- Eleven-year-old Logan Fairbanks and his father Josh still can’t believe they’re visiting the White House.

“I am super excited to be in D.C.,” Logan told ABC News.

It seems a little bit like a dream, but it started as a nightmare. Logan, who is going into the seventh grade, likes to post entertaining videos of himself on YouTube from his home computer in Hartford, Michigan. But what he was getting back wasn’t so funny. He noticed a stream of really vicious comments directed at him by Internet trolls — people who view videos on the internet and write nasty comments.

With his Dad’s camera rolling, Logan confronted the cyber bullies head-on. In his two minute video, the Logan bravely recites all the awful posted insults to camera. The ugly words coming from Logan’s mouth are jarring in tandem with his innocent, freckled face.

“He looks like such a stupid fatso. I’m surprised he fits in the front seat. I hope he dies. I hope he gets cancer.” The horrible sentences keep coming, but Logan believes this was the most effective way to strike back.

“I did it not only to help the bullies not bully anymore but to inspire people that are being bullied and not to let the words affect you,” Logan said.

His message has made an impact. The video has registered almost a million views. And among those many views, one famous fan at the White House. Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Obama saw the video and took to Twitter to extend a special invitation to Logan.

Thanks to donations raised by a GoFundMe campaign, the Fairbanks family made their dream a reality — but not only for Logan and his parents — even Logan’s 8-month-old brother Peyton came along in his stroller for the ride. Dad Josh Fairbanks says the family had never walked so much. They already visited the Lincoln Memorial and the WW2 Memorial. They will get an evening tour of the West Wing after visiting with Jarrett at the White House.

With all the attention, what do Logan and his family hope to accomplish?

“We want to take the power from the bullies so they can’t hurt you,” Josh Fairbanks said.

He’s set up a foundation called “Take the Power Away.” The Fairbanks family members are meeting with their home-state U.S. Rep. Fred Upton and hope to set up an organization that could go into schools and provide support to students and teachers to ward off bullying.

Logan celebrates his 12th birthday on Monday and his parents says the Washington trip will be a gift he’ll never forget.