Bullying victims praise 'inspirational' #DancingMan
Bullying victims from around the world have spoken out in support of a man who became an internet sensation after being cruelly taunted online.
More than 2,000 people have donated to a fund set up to provide a party for the man who became known as #DancingMan - and many of them have shared their own experiences of bullying, describing Sean as an "inspiration" and saying the campaign has helped restore their confidence.
The man, named as Sean from London, was mocked in a post on image-sharing site 4chan by a user who described him as a "specimen trying to dance".
The second picture showed him with his head bowed after spotting the group laughing at him.
But, in an effort to prove that the online community could be kind as well as cruel, Twitter user Cassandra Fairbanks offered to hold a dance party for him - and his identity was revealed.
Read: #DancingMan found and invited to LA dance party
He has now posted a picture of himself "in training" for the party, which is now being organised.
A GoFundMe page to help pay for the party has topped £24,000 ($36,000), with the majority of the cash being donated to anti-bullying charities - and many of the donations coming from people who say they too have been victims in the past.
One donor, by the username Twoedged Circle, has given cash twice and described how the campaign had helped restore her confidence.
Joana Rodrigues also gave money to the fund, describing how she spent eight years trying to get down to a "normal" weight after being bullied for years and saying how the experience almost cost her her life.
Another user, Sharon Irvine, said her experience of bullying had left her scarred with low self-esteem issues.
A string of celebrities have offered to play at the event, including global superstar Pharrell, trance DJ Moby, rocker Andrew WK and Ellie Goulding.
And it seems #DancingMan will not even have to pay to get to the event, with the LA Coliseum offering itself as a venue - vastly increasing the initial estimated turn-out of 2,000 - and the local tourist board offering to pay for his flight and travel.