The Australian teen known for hitting a politician with an egg for blaming Christchurch victims for the mass shooting in March just made a huge donation to those victims.
According to the Associated Press, 17-year-old Will Connolly is donating approximately $100,000 Australian dollars (roughly $70,000 USD) to the families of the Mosque shooting victims, after receiving the money from a crowdfunding campaign for his legal expenses. But because Connolly’s representation worked pro bono, he didn’t have any legal fees that needed to be paid. “Egg boy” announced on his Instagram that the money would instead be donated to the Christchurch Foundations and Victims Support organization.
“I decided to donate all monies to help provide some relief to the victims of the massacre… it wasn’t mine to keep,” Connolly wrote. “To the victims of the Tragedy, I whole heartedly hope that this can bring some relief to you. Keep spreading the love.”
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Connolly earned the nickname “egg boy” after filming himself confronting Australian politician Fraser Anning — a senator from Queensland — and following the Christchurch massacre. Senator Anning had said that Muslim immigration was to blame for the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed.
“The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place,” Anning said at the time. “The entire religion of Islam is simply the violent ideology of a sixth-century despot masquerading as a religious leader, which justifies endless war against anyone who opposes it and calls for the murder of unbelievers and apostates.”
In the video of the egging, Connolly is seen filming the encounter on his phone, calmly walking up behind the politician, and slapping an egg on the back of his head. Anning then threw a punch at Connolly, who punched back. Then, several members of Anning’s entourage jumped on Connolly.
“Don’t egg politicians, you’ll get tackled by 30 bogans at the same time. I learned the hard way,” Connolly said in a video he recorded and posted to social media after he egged Anning (“bogan” is Aussie slang for an unsophisticated person).
Egg boy on the egging:
— Rashida Yosufzai (@Rashidajourno)
While Fraser Anning was documented punching Connolly, investigators ultimately declined to issue criminal charges against him, saying that he was acting in self-defense. The 69-year-old politician was ultimately voted out of office in Australia’s May 18 elections.