I really wish him and his family all the best. Not sure how'd I'd react with all the attention and admiration of an entire nation as a regular joe (Ahmed).
He's become known as a hero globally judging by the news coverage. I'm sure the $2.5 million plus other random acts of kindness people do for him will help.
The shooting got attention in the US, where even Seth Meyers did a dedicated segment to acknowledge it during his Late Night show, which I didn't expect.
Living in the US is...horrifying in some respects (don't blame me. AWS dragged me out here)
When the weeklydisturbingly often mass shooting happens. Americans are so...used to it? that after the first half hour or so that morning people have already "gotten over it". By lunch time people are busy humming away and talking about the weather and other trivialities
And so many incredibly stupid assholes in the US are going on about this shooting saying stuff like "See! This is what strict gun laws leads to" without even a hint of awareness of how brain-dead and wrong this is.
It IS a sensational story within the US as Oz is held up as being a gun-free hellhole by its 2A proponents. It is of course neither gun-free nor a hellhole.
Its a act of terrorism if course it made international news. Plus its the perfect fear mongering and hate grifting story for the usual suspect to spew forth their garbage.
Did the elderly couple that first tried to stop the shooting but both got killed get any fundraising for their families too? I feel they should be getting just as much recognition as this guy.
The second one has been paused for now - the creator (Adam Sullivan of Evidence Based Training) posted a message saying he wants to make sure he can distribute funds where they need to go. It says it’s for other victims as well so I guess he’s just doing his due diligence. Hopefully it doesn’t end up being like Celeste Barber’s fire fundraiser where the funds could only go to one spot to help.
Yeah absolutely understand your thoughts there! I want to think the best of people in these situations but do side-eye the amount of donation campaigns that pop up in the wake of such a terrible event. People want to contribute and feel like they’re doing something but that leaves the space for grifters to flourish (not saying that’s what’s happening in this scenario but I wish there was more rigidity around these things).
Someone has to fundraise and give philanthropically tbh and he had a go at it, 5k ain’t a bad impromptu gift for someone like him either. He’s not a billionaire.
Also I was curious about the scepticism, I think GFMs are inherently low trust but had a gander anyway. Personally I’m satisfied that this business owner will do the right thing with the donated money. This is coming from someone who finds his brand insufferable.
“Firstly, thank you to every single person who has donated and shared this. The support has honestly been overwhelming. We’ve now gone beyond the initial goal, which I’m incredibly grateful for.
Because of that, I’m going to pause donations for now while I take the time to make sure the money goes to the right places and reaches everyone affected in the most meaningful way possible.
I don’t want to rush this part. I want to be confident that every dollar is used properly and has real impact.
I’ll keep everyone updated along the way and will share exactly where the funds are donated once finalised.
Thank you again for the trust, support, and generosity. We have collectively achieved something that will make a real impact on the families that have been affected
Adam.”
Just thought I’d share cause felt slandering someone’s highly likely earnest charitable effort like this is just tall poppy syndrome and a net negative for everyone tbh
Yeah, all for supporting this hero fairly privately and discreetly but an influencer presenting a giant novelty cheque in his hospital bed and posting it to socials is pretty gross
Agreed. I actually worry knowing how the internet and gotcha journalists likes to build people up then tear them down that this kind of overexposure will result in people turning on him
I get where you're coming from, but this "influencers" entire gig is raising millions for charity. He is a known safe fundraiser, so if he is backing something you know it's not dodgy.
Also would just like to add. What set Zach on his journey was the start of some mental health issues he was dealing with when he was living in Australia going to medical school. When a few unfortunate events happened and then Covid hit, he started to feel really isolated without much of a support system in place. This began his journey on healing while trying to make connections with others and help people. I’m sure this is a bit personal to him because he called Australia home for a time and seemed to really love the country and its people.
Honestly, this influencer is actually one of the good ones. He's helped out SO many people and his reach is massive. He's been able to buy people homes, cars, etc. and get them off the streets.
It's fine to be suspicious but I'd much rather support this type of influencing than those who are doing it just to help themselves.
It’s a novelty cheque for PR reasons, it’s not real.
For a cheque to be valid it only needs a few things
A clear Payee (Ahmed's name is on the cheque)
The amount - clearly - in words and numerals (Seems to be there)
A date (it's on there)
A valid bank account with sufficient funds to cover the amount of the cheque (There are digits down the bottom, where the MICR coding of the account details would be - but of course I can't tell whether that is a valid account)
A signature (can't see one)
It can be written on anything that a bank is able to process - so the fictional cheque, written on a cow - wouldn't be valid - but this "novelty cheque" might be
The only real issue is that it has to be cashed before September 2029 - because cheques will no longer be valid in Australia after that date
yeah donations will keep trickling in for at least a week, i feel like this presentation was only done at this time for maximum clicks before the bondi news dies down
Yes, he fortunately won't need it for medical bills but the money will definitely come in handy if the articles saying he may lose his arm and become disabled are true.
I get what they mean, though. He did an amazingly heroic thing, but this photo makes it feel so... fake? Like they're trying to turn it into a show and dance, instead of us respecting it for what it is.
It’s a little weird. But, poor bloke is a self employed business owner who’s been pretty significantly injured. He can’t work, and I’m sure he’s got bills to pay. It’s not like he’s a cop who gets workers comp or insurance. The money is likely going to keep a roof over his head, feed his kids, maybe support his parents or in laws in their old age. So I’m choosing to get over the weirdness and go with the positives.
At the end of the day , who cares that that influencer has also benefited from this? The main thing is support reached Ahmed. Money represent value when you don’t have anything else of help to give. I don’t see what’s that weird about it.
I dont mind an 'influencer' if he's doing his thing to help and raise awareness and such. There are way worse people out there who definitely don't deserve the attention they are getting
Exactly. And the net result of this is Ahmed can now retire somewhat comfortably on 125k per year (assuming 5%). Given he is a business owner/sole trader I would bet a month’s pay he doesn’t have much in super either. So he’s hardly received an excessive amount. He deserves it.
and if he’s permanently disabled without any insurance for that, he’s not getting a payout either. i was hoping the fundraiser would at least get to $5m tbh, he lives in sydney and has two young kids to put through school and a modest home costs at least $1.5m (i think he deserves a mansion tbh) plus he’s probably sharing that money with his family in syria like most family-oriented immigrants tend to do. $2.5m is not enough. hopefully he can get paid to do some interviews here and overseas or get paid for publishing rights to his story. i’m 100% in support of him using this for his financial future in whatever way he wants to
He went above and beyond what was expected of a private citizen. He absolutely deserves it. Ahmed should be the benchmark for future immigrants who come here. Be like Ahmed.
There is a lot of social media pages milking engagement out of it. Ofc you want stories like this to be publicised, but pretty obvious they are doing it for themselves and not for Ahmed
Yeah, the dude handing over the cheque weird clout chasing feels really, really gross.
It's a nice gesture to recognise Ahmed's bravery. Given the circumstances, it feels quite distasteful how it's been handled. As other commenters have said, it feels dystopian.
Wasn't there the guy of Middle Eastern background who tried to help, but ended up getting mistaken for one of the gunmen and got bashed? Not sure of identity, but I dearly hope he's supported.
Yeah, the guy who came up on the bridge once they'd been shot and seemed to be checking to see if they were alive and calling to the police that they weren't.
Which obviously wasn't a great idea but he just survived a shooting and ended up getting punched in the face.
He's apparently spoken to the media but wants to stay anonymous. He's here on a protection visa but has also had a run-in with the law and is awaiting a decision over it. So, he doesn't want to go public, but he did want to say that he went up to try to kick the gun out of one of the shooter's hands. The police and others came right behind him, and there was some confusion over who he was. So - a flawed hero, if you will.
From memory, he was wearing all black as well, so from afar it would've been difficult to differentiate between them. I'm sure with all of the chaos and adrenaline, he wasn't thinking about what he was wearing or how easily he could've been mistaken for one of the gunmen. Shame he was injured trying to do the right thing, but he's very lucky he wasn't shot himself.
Yeah, my heart still hurts for that couple that tried to stop them before the attack started. They succeeded but the pig grabbed another gun and executed them. They died holding each other. Absolutely gutwrenching.
I'm convinced it's because theirs is a MUCH sadder story and people don't want to see a couple who died in each other's arms. You can't discuss their bravery without discussing the fact that they were brutally murdered directly after that video and the visual of their bodies is seared into a lot of people's minds. It's absolutely heartbreaking.
We like seeing civilians able to exert control over attackers, having some power in the situation, and living to tell the tale.
Yes, it's absolutely heart-breaking to see that video knowing what happened in the seconds afterwards. They do have a verified fundraiser on Go Fund Me (I think a family friend has started it, or a cousin). It has a lot of donations, I think around 700K by now.
It's probably this. In our culture, in a typical person, there isn't a place in the brain to consider people who "Did everything they could and still failed". The grind, the hustle, the dream, it's pushed so hard that it eclipses the thought that 'bad things can happen to good people'. It makes people uncomfortable.
This is what I think too. He did a wonderful thing and saved a lot of lives. But so did others. No money for others for on-going care, or to bury their loved ones if they can't afford it.
I would have liked to see a massive fundraiser, where funds would have gone to all communities involved that day. For funerals, for ongoing medical costs for those injured, therapy / mental health for everyone, which a lot of people will need, whether Jewish or not. Will be a lot of PTSD for people. Even those who ran for their lives.
He doesn't even look that thrilled. He may donate it to the community. Who knows.
Go Fund Me has a special Bondi page with verified fundraisers. I think there are 7 or 8 up there now, with a couple of them closed. I've donated to 3 or 4 of them.
the two police officers are on another platform, it looked to be setup by the union or some other officers club. Im guessing it was mainly made to be shared internally based on the amount of donations so soon after its launched.
In not that impressed by the people who ran in after the shots were over. I would have been more impressed if they helped Ahmed neutralise the gunman after he disarmed him. Coming out to kick people after they are down isn’t heroic.. it gives more like trying to run in take credit for someone else’s bravery
The last thing going through the mind of a person attempting to wrest control of a deadly weapon to stop more innocents dying is gofundme cash prizes mate..
Sadly, Ahmed will also have to deal with anger and vitriol from the portion of the global Muslim community who consider him a traitor for stopping the terrorist attack and saving Jews.
I’m sure the $2.5m is a bittersweet reward when you’re getting death threats for doing the right thing.
Hopefully AFP and NSW Police do what they can to protect him from reprisals.
He's also likely to lose a lot of the use of his arm, and they are apparently still concerned they may have to amputate it. I'd hope that's enough of a deterrent.
2.5 million doesn't go anywhere near as far when you have also likely significantly increased your ongoing medical expenses forever and also decreased your earning potential (likely there are jobs he used to do himself at the shop that he will now need to hire someone for).
Yeah, to say nothing of how dystopian it feels for random unrelated influencers to come out of the wood work for their share of the attention/monetisation, I feel like this must just be so much to navigate all at once. To go from being a normal guy having a day at the beach, to almost dying (to put it mildly), to accidentally becoming an extremely public figure (no doubt with a non-zero amount of people hoping to Milkshake Duck him, considering the disgusting misinformation retconning his ethnicity), then a turn like this where one has to reckon with such a horrible event suddenly being, effectively, one of the best things that's ever happened to them (and tone-deafly presented as such with a big novelty cheque), and how badly that must mix with any potential survivors guilt... And that's all before he's even out of hospital! The guy doesn't even know if he'll be able to keep his arm yet. Any one of these things is so much to process, and fundamentally life changing.
It just feels like people are starting to make this about their need for a hero/celebrity, or their need to perform appreciation, etc. Like, this wasn't filmed for his sake, it was filmed so an influencer can make money off of people who want to watch it and feel good about it. The man's already done more than enough, he doesn't exist as a prop to help us process our feelings about what happened, he's got plenty to process for himself. Just give him is money off camera and give him some peace, at least until the dang morphine wears off.
But hopefully that's just me projecting my own discomfort with the thought of being in his shoes, hopefully he's chill and is surrounded by good advocates.
Agreed. There was that couple who tackled the fuckers when they got out of their car. But it seems they got killed point blank.
Id rather their families got giant novelty cheques, if giant novelty cheques have to be a thing.
But at least Ahmed (legend that he is) still has his life.
That couple have nothing but a side-note, despite being just as heroic, if not more - given that it seems they weren't trained in this kind of thing like Ahmed was.
I really hope the money doesn’t turn into a source of in-fighting or stress for his extended family. That would be horrible to hear a few years out that it’s caused rifts or bankruptcies
I want him to be rewarded for his heroism. I want him taken care of.
I also have to wonder why people have donated so much more to certain victims than others. Ahmed is a hero but he's alive, his kids haven't lost their dad. Whereas e.g. Rabbi Eli Schlanger was killed, leaving 4 dependent children but only about a fifth as much money has been donated to them. Less than was donated to the families of Sofia and Boris Gurman, or Matilda (may their memories be forever a blessing) despite no dependent kids having lost a parent.
I'm trying not to read too much into it, but it feels somehow like a popularity contest and seems to speak somehow to the different ways we value people.
Agree. Like I’d fully support raising funds to recover from his injuries and even some wage protection, but a random massive cheque feels awkward.
Maybe this will happen, but I wonder if that money is better spent financially supporting funerals, memorials and other celebration of life to those tragically lost (and their families)?
I legit cried over Ahmed's words, which were noble, sincere and humble, but yeah it kinda sucks a little that the vehicle for them is a broccoli-haired influencer whose ultimate goal is clicks and views and whose ultimate product is himself.
I look at it like this: in times when we have seen our worst, it is a coping mechanism to obsessively shower praise on this who were in that moment at our best. It's not even all about the man, but also an idea.
I'm okay with that, but it does feel a little weird.
Very weird. I'm happy for him to get something, good on him for his actions. But what exactly were people thinking when they donated money here? Was it just akin to shouting someone a beer for doing you a favour? Or did they think he needed the money for some reason?
As soon as it was revealed who he was I knew the media and gov was going to parade him around more than others that have done similar in the past. It’s a pretty transparent desperate performance to avoid the uptick in anti-Islam sentiment that happens after these attacks. Which doesn’t make it entirely wrong but… feels a bit odd.
Did it have to be filmed? Did it really need to happen from his hospital bed? Could it not have waited until after his recovery?
I am all for him getting the money, he deserves all the rewards he can get and wish him all the best, truly. But the way this was done feels kind of gross.
Nothing like influencers publicising someone else's work and taking money from all the engagement generated, influencers would never have ulterior motives!
Yep, while it is good to see him get the money, clearly was used by the influencers for free PR - would've been much better if they had a representative from the Jewish Community involved.
It had to be filmed because this guys professional brand is to insert himself into various situations to get the 'money shot' video/picture.
Not saying whats hes doing isnt necessarily good (or bad), just pointing out hes inserting himself into all sorts of situations and some of them make you a little cringe or uncomfortable. Giving homeless people money on camera while making sure its all filmed etc.
One of his post comments, "Follow u/mdmotivator and drop a comment within the next 7 days for your chance to win $1000 🥹❤️" and "Ps. Scroll to the end for another cash giveaway that I hope you enter and win. Goodluck! ❤️".
I'd rather we didn't distribute charity based on spectacle. Imagine how different this would be if these things weren't captured on video or even made headlines. If there's a need to help finance resulting healthcare shortfalls, demand our government provide it.
The acts should be celebrated and such character further idealised in society but they shouldn't attract what amounts to winning the lottery. It shouldn't be about money. If people want to be charitable, there's endless animal shelters, mental health initiatives, starving kids an ocean away - you name it - that go ignored every day by those throwing money around here.
Im not sure how comfortable I am with professional and opportunistic 'social media influencer' like this inserting himself (literally physically) into this.
What do I mean by professional and opportunistic? Well take a look at his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdmotivator/?hl=en . You'll notice straight away. Mr Ahmed received this incredible amount of money from someone who trots the globe giving new cars to housewives, money to homeless people, prizes to random people in shopping centres - and yes, heros who stop mass shootings and terrorist attacks mixed in those other situations too - all of course with the camera turned on to make sure its filmed and posted to his 8.8million insta account ;)
Though sometimes the circumstances differ ("I just bought you a brand new car!!!!!"). Giving homeless people money on camera while making sure its all filmed etc.
- Mr Ahmed hasn't won lotto, like the giant-sized cheque would first lead you to believe. These sort of theatrics are questionable at best.... or outright tacky here (given the context of what happened). More suited to Price-is-Right.
- I couldnt help but notice the irony that the Social Media Inlfuencer is front and CENTRE of this picture, with Mr Ahmed himself off to the side and partially obscured by the cheque the influencer is proudly smiling and holding.
- Id have more respect for the gofundme organiser if they showed the humility and grace to bestow the honour of giving Mr Ahmed this cheque to a more appropriate person.
I dont know how integrally/personally responsible this guy was in making sure an amazing amount of money was raised and directed to Mr Ahmed. Its wonderful that happened but is it something that really needs to come from these types of 'professional influencers'... its a bit...self serving? weird? awkward? cringe? uncomfortable?
Do you find it 100% heartwarming, or does some degree of self-serving tacky-ness/shallowness creep in when you look at his instagram?
Am I a cynical asshole for thinking this? Here is one of this recent posts, "Follow u/mdmotivator and drop a comment within the next 7 days for your chance to win $1000 🥹❤️" and "Ps. Scroll to the end for another cash giveaway that I hope you enter and win. Goodluck! ❤️"
My point remains. He inserted himself into a situation that he wasn't a part of, just to make sure his face was all over it. If he's Canadian, I wonder what he spent on this trip to Australia for a giant cheque photo op, instead of just donating that much...
Reread what they said. They’re referring to OTHER gofundmes that racists create to grift other racists after they’re fired from their job for being racist
This guy is definitely a hero, but it changed my outlook when I heard about the guy that intervened a lot earlier and got himself and his wife killed bc the shooter had another gun.
It doesn't change anything about Ahmed. He probably weighed up a lot of things in making his decision. He's just as much of a hero.
It changes my outlook from aspiring to be someone who would act bravely in a similar situation, to having to face the grim reality that it likely will not end well, and knowing that choosing not to act out of cowardice or wisdom would be indistinguishable. I hope I never get to find out.
Jewish-American billionaire Bill Ackman donated $99,999 to each of the GoFundMes for Ahmed and the Gurmans (couple that died) and I think also to some of the other victims
I found it funny how several videos I watched from American YouTubers thought the money was being raised for his medical bills. A whole flood of Aussies were in the comments quickly correcting them with, "Uhhh, we have free healthcare here. The GoFundMe was just to thank him for being an absolute badass hero!"
I was anticipating him donating it all to a victims fund; but also kind of hoped he wouldn't, he deserves it. I'm sure there are others who deserve it too, but happy to see him become an example here.
Why should the individual do that? Why not the Government? He’s probably injured so badly that if it wasn’t for community support he could lose his business. Then what? He becomes a number in our cooked welfare system? Essentially the hand up he’d get from the country he risked his life to protect.
I'm guessing there are reasons why a government wouldn't want to incentivise this stuff. Hinting at sancrtioned cash rewards for bravery, could see vigilantism rise for less extreme life and death situations. ie. people seeking situtaions to inject themselves into for the chance of reward. There's also the issue of quantifying this stuff... you just know it when you see it, probably best to let it happen organically.
Firstly, the NSW government has the victim support scheme, so they will all get money from that. Plus many of the other victims have go fund mes too.
Additionally he's likely lost a lot of function in that arm forever, and he's still at risk of losing the arm. 2.5 million actually doesn't go THAT far if you can't work anymore and you have a family to support.
Obviously I hope all the other victims get all the financial support they need to, but I hope he doesn't feel he needs to give this money away.
I’ve always found nationalistic pride super cringe but dammit if I’m not tearing up right now at his Aussie Aussie Aussie!! Ahmed is the best of us. What a legend!
Good on him , he could have died doing what he did. I guess he’s got a good deposit on a 2X1 in Sydney now. I wonder if the ATO will get their sticky fingers into his reward.
I really wish him and his family all the best. Not sure how'd I'd react with all the attention and admiration of an entire nation as a regular joe (Ahmed).
True hero.
He's become known as a hero globally judging by the news coverage. I'm sure the $2.5 million plus other random acts of kindness people do for him will help.
The shooting got attention in the US, where even Seth Meyers did a dedicated segment to acknowledge it during his Late Night show, which I didn't expect.
Living in the US is...horrifying in some respects (don't blame me. AWS dragged me out here)
When the
weeklydisturbingly often mass shooting happens. Americans are so...used to it? that after the first half hour or so that morning people have already "gotten over it". By lunch time people are busy humming away and talking about the weather and other trivialitiesIt's horrifying
Plus, one unarmed Aussie bloke doing more than an entire Uvalde police force. I don't think such a point could ever be hammered home enough
And notably there were a few unarmed parents who snuck in and got their kids out of the school when Uvalde police did jack shit.
Not a fan of the cops but at least the ones here in Australia are capable of doing something when shit hits the fan.
Just keep in mind it wasn't one bloke, multiple people rushed him at different times and got shot.
That's why I was surprised Seth even acknowledged it. It's not a sensational story by US standards, because it's so common over there.
Well it was NOT in the US, which is newsworthy itself. And a bit alarming. Don’t want our cancer to spread.
And so many incredibly stupid assholes in the US are going on about this shooting saying stuff like "See! This is what strict gun laws leads to" without even a hint of awareness of how brain-dead and wrong this is.
It IS a sensational story within the US as Oz is held up as being a gun-free hellhole by its 2A proponents. It is of course neither gun-free nor a hellhole.
Its a act of terrorism if course it made international news. Plus its the perfect fear mongering and hate grifting story for the usual suspect to spew forth their garbage.
OTOH even the US hasn't had a shooting with this many killed this year. Nor last.
And probably only once ever that was terrorism: The pulse nightclub shootings.
Although they've had more serious terror attacks using explosives or aeroplanes.
Did the elderly couple that first tried to stop the shooting but both got killed get any fundraising for their families too? I feel they should be getting just as much recognition as this guy.
There was a gofundme setup for their families too, but it was opened later than Ahmed's
Thats good to hear, hopefully they get enough to cover all funeral costs
Yeah it was at about $600k I think earlier today
Was over 600k when I read about it iirc, so should do
I noticed there were many messages/donations from abroad on the GoFundMe.
Lol, a regular Ahmed. Love it.
Fuck yeah. Absolute legend.
There's two Gofundmes running for him, weirdly. The other has raised about $200k last time I looked.
The second one has been paused for now - the creator (Adam Sullivan of Evidence Based Training) posted a message saying he wants to make sure he can distribute funds where they need to go. It says it’s for other victims as well so I guess he’s just doing his due diligence. Hopefully it doesn’t end up being like Celeste Barber’s fire fundraiser where the funds could only go to one spot to help.
Something about the fundraiser that Adam’s doing turned me off. I don’t trust him at all and would not be surprised if some of those funds disappear.
I think his messages that he was donating $5000 really turned me off. Just another (sub)consciously trying to benefit from the situation
Yeah absolutely understand your thoughts there! I want to think the best of people in these situations but do side-eye the amount of donation campaigns that pop up in the wake of such a terrible event. People want to contribute and feel like they’re doing something but that leaves the space for grifters to flourish (not saying that’s what’s happening in this scenario but I wish there was more rigidity around these things).
Someone has to fundraise and give philanthropically tbh and he had a go at it, 5k ain’t a bad impromptu gift for someone like him either. He’s not a billionaire.
Also I was curious about the scepticism, I think GFMs are inherently low trust but had a gander anyway. Personally I’m satisfied that this business owner will do the right thing with the donated money. This is coming from someone who finds his brand insufferable.
“Firstly, thank you to every single person who has donated and shared this. The support has honestly been overwhelming. We’ve now gone beyond the initial goal, which I’m incredibly grateful for.
Because of that, I’m going to pause donations for now while I take the time to make sure the money goes to the right places and reaches everyone affected in the most meaningful way possible.
I don’t want to rush this part. I want to be confident that every dollar is used properly and has real impact.
I’ll keep everyone updated along the way and will share exactly where the funds are donated once finalised.
Thank you again for the trust, support, and generosity. We have collectively achieved something that will make a real impact on the families that have been affected
Adam.”
Just thought I’d share cause felt slandering someone’s highly likely earnest charitable effort like this is just tall poppy syndrome and a net negative for everyone tbh
Not saying that he doesn't deserve this. But this feels weird.
Yeah, all for supporting this hero fairly privately and discreetly but an influencer presenting a giant novelty cheque in his hospital bed and posting it to socials is pretty gross
Agreed. I actually worry knowing how the internet and gotcha journalists likes to build people up then tear them down that this kind of overexposure will result in people turning on him
"Bondi 'Hero' EXPOSED as a Nestle Fan"
"Aussie 'Hero' EXPOSED: prefers Marmite"
Milkshake Duck!!
You expect an influencer to miss the opportunity to make a mass shooting be all about them??
Sadly no, I don’t.
I get where you're coming from, but this "influencers" entire gig is raising millions for charity. He is a known safe fundraiser, so if he is backing something you know it's not dodgy.
If it was someone else I'd be in agreement.
The gofundme was set up by some company/org called "car hub".
Is that influencer something to do with them? Or separate?
Zachery Dereniowski is listed as one of the co-organisers there under Car Hub. The other I believe being the rep from Car Hub
He's the third guy in the list, Zachery. He's separate from them, no relation. His socials are mostly under mdmotivator.
He has started hundreds of fund raisers like this one just to help people he comes across in life:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-change-biancas-life
https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-change-gregs-life
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/homeless-immigrant-donation-tiktok-zachery-dereniowski
Etc
Also would just like to add. What set Zach on his journey was the start of some mental health issues he was dealing with when he was living in Australia going to medical school. When a few unfortunate events happened and then Covid hit, he started to feel really isolated without much of a support system in place. This began his journey on healing while trying to make connections with others and help people. I’m sure this is a bit personal to him because he called Australia home for a time and seemed to really love the country and its people.
You can read a bit more here.
https://windsorlife.com/zachery-dereniowski/
Honestly, this influencer is actually one of the good ones. He's helped out SO many people and his reach is massive. He's been able to buy people homes, cars, etc. and get them off the streets.
It's fine to be suspicious but I'd much rather support this type of influencing than those who are doing it just to help themselves.
Yep - would've been much better look if they got someone from the Jewish Community, as a symbol of unity and thanks.
Couldn’t agree more, well said.
You're not thinking of the poor influencer and his social media views.
We've entered a really shit timeline.
It's odd how they publicly presented him a cheque for $2.5 Million, but their GoFundMe included a goal of $3.1 Million and is still open.
People are still actively donating.
It’s a novelty cheque for PR reasons, it’s not real.
But it is a little strange they didn’t wait until the funding campaign was over.
The real cheque will likely be written with the final raised amount on it.
For a cheque to be valid it only needs a few things
A clear Payee (Ahmed's name is on the cheque)
The amount - clearly - in words and numerals (Seems to be there)
A date (it's on there)
A valid bank account with sufficient funds to cover the amount of the cheque (There are digits down the bottom, where the MICR coding of the account details would be - but of course I can't tell whether that is a valid account)
A signature (can't see one)
It can be written on anything that a bank is able to process - so the fictional cheque, written on a cow - wouldn't be valid - but this "novelty cheque" might be
The only real issue is that it has to be cashed before September 2029 - because cheques will no longer be valid in Australia after that date
yeah donations will keep trickling in for at least a week, i feel like this presentation was only done at this time for maximum clicks before the bondi news dies down
The influencer takes the remainder as his fee.
Its heartwarming and dystopian all at the same time.
It’s not dystopian. He doesn’t need it to pay for his hospital stay. But it’s weird.
Yes, he fortunately won't need it for medical bills but the money will definitely come in handy if the articles saying he may lose his arm and become disabled are true.
For context, a lot of Americans donated.
I get what they mean, though. He did an amazingly heroic thing, but this photo makes it feel so... fake? Like they're trying to turn it into a show and dance, instead of us respecting it for what it is.
It’s a little weird. But, poor bloke is a self employed business owner who’s been pretty significantly injured. He can’t work, and I’m sure he’s got bills to pay. It’s not like he’s a cop who gets workers comp or insurance. The money is likely going to keep a roof over his head, feed his kids, maybe support his parents or in laws in their old age. So I’m choosing to get over the weirdness and go with the positives.
At the end of the day , who cares that that influencer has also benefited from this? The main thing is support reached Ahmed. Money represent value when you don’t have anything else of help to give. I don’t see what’s that weird about it.
I dont mind an 'influencer' if he's doing his thing to help and raise awareness and such. There are way worse people out there who definitely don't deserve the attention they are getting
Exactly. And the net result of this is Ahmed can now retire somewhat comfortably on 125k per year (assuming 5%). Given he is a business owner/sole trader I would bet a month’s pay he doesn’t have much in super either. So he’s hardly received an excessive amount. He deserves it.
and if he’s permanently disabled without any insurance for that, he’s not getting a payout either. i was hoping the fundraiser would at least get to $5m tbh, he lives in sydney and has two young kids to put through school and a modest home costs at least $1.5m (i think he deserves a mansion tbh) plus he’s probably sharing that money with his family in syria like most family-oriented immigrants tend to do. $2.5m is not enough. hopefully he can get paid to do some interviews here and overseas or get paid for publishing rights to his story. i’m 100% in support of him using this for his financial future in whatever way he wants to
He went above and beyond what was expected of a private citizen. He absolutely deserves it. Ahmed should be the benchmark for future immigrants who come here. Be like Ahmed.
There is a lot of social media pages milking engagement out of it. Ofc you want stories like this to be publicised, but pretty obvious they are doing it for themselves and not for Ahmed
Yeah, the dude handing over the cheque weird clout chasing feels really, really gross.
It's a nice gesture to recognise Ahmed's bravery. Given the circumstances, it feels quite distasteful how it's been handled. As other commenters have said, it feels dystopian.
Yeah as soon as I saw him jumping in the photo I was like yeah nah he just wants the publicity for himself
I’m with you. For it to be filmed and posted is kind of gross to me.
He does deserve it but he also deserves privacy while he recovers.
The whole thing is weird to me. Who set up the gofundme??
Really fucking weird. The victims families could sorely need some of that help too.
I hope this doesn’t set a precedent where people recklessly try to play hero and get in the way of police if another event were to occur
Yeah or the fact there are other people who did similar things but aren’t getting the recognition either
That’s how I feel. I’m happy for him and appreciate him.
But there are multiple other people who displayed great bravery, plus the victims and their families. I hope they all get some help and donations too!
Wasn't there the guy of Middle Eastern background who tried to help, but ended up getting mistaken for one of the gunmen and got bashed? Not sure of identity, but I dearly hope he's supported.
Yeah, the guy who came up on the bridge once they'd been shot and seemed to be checking to see if they were alive and calling to the police that they weren't.
Which obviously wasn't a great idea but he just survived a shooting and ended up getting punched in the face.
He's apparently spoken to the media but wants to stay anonymous. He's here on a protection visa but has also had a run-in with the law and is awaiting a decision over it. So, he doesn't want to go public, but he did want to say that he went up to try to kick the gun out of one of the shooter's hands. The police and others came right behind him, and there was some confusion over who he was. So - a flawed hero, if you will.
From memory, he was wearing all black as well, so from afar it would've been difficult to differentiate between them. I'm sure with all of the chaos and adrenaline, he wasn't thinking about what he was wearing or how easily he could've been mistaken for one of the gunmen. Shame he was injured trying to do the right thing, but he's very lucky he wasn't shot himself.
The cops also tried to shoot him but missed.
yep think he also got shot at as well
bad move going up there but still
Yeah, my heart still hurts for that couple that tried to stop them before the attack started. They succeeded but the pig grabbed another gun and executed them. They died holding each other. Absolutely gutwrenching.
Like the couple who actually gave their lives in an attempt to stop the Bondi gunmen?
I'm convinced it's because theirs is a MUCH sadder story and people don't want to see a couple who died in each other's arms. You can't discuss their bravery without discussing the fact that they were brutally murdered directly after that video and the visual of their bodies is seared into a lot of people's minds. It's absolutely heartbreaking.
We like seeing civilians able to exert control over attackers, having some power in the situation, and living to tell the tale.
Yes, it's absolutely heart-breaking to see that video knowing what happened in the seconds afterwards. They do have a verified fundraiser on Go Fund Me (I think a family friend has started it, or a cousin). It has a lot of donations, I think around 700K by now.
It's probably this. In our culture, in a typical person, there isn't a place in the brain to consider people who "Did everything they could and still failed". The grind, the hustle, the dream, it's pushed so hard that it eclipses the thought that 'bad things can happen to good people'. It makes people uncomfortable.
This is what I think too. He did a wonderful thing and saved a lot of lives. But so did others. No money for others for on-going care, or to bury their loved ones if they can't afford it.
I would have liked to see a massive fundraiser, where funds would have gone to all communities involved that day. For funerals, for ongoing medical costs for those injured, therapy / mental health for everyone, which a lot of people will need, whether Jewish or not. Will be a lot of PTSD for people. Even those who ran for their lives.
He doesn't even look that thrilled. He may donate it to the community. Who knows.
It seems like most of the victims have go fund mes set up for them actually, and people have been donating to those too.
Plus they will all receive funding from the NSW victims support scheme, and that should cover the essentials for funerals and medical care.
Those fundraisers exist. You just haven’t donated and shared them.
Oh ok. I'll have to have a look.
Go Fund Me has a special Bondi page with verified fundraisers. I think there are 7 or 8 up there now, with a couple of them closed. I've donated to 3 or 4 of them.
the two police officers are on another platform, it looked to be setup by the union or some other officers club. Im guessing it was mainly made to be shared internally based on the amount of donations so soon after its launched.
In not that impressed by the people who ran in after the shots were over. I would have been more impressed if they helped Ahmed neutralise the gunman after he disarmed him. Coming out to kick people after they are down isn’t heroic.. it gives more like trying to run in take credit for someone else’s bravery
The last thing going through the mind of a person attempting to wrest control of a deadly weapon to stop more innocents dying is gofundme cash prizes mate..
Sadly, Ahmed will also have to deal with anger and vitriol from the portion of the global Muslim community who consider him a traitor for stopping the terrorist attack and saving Jews.
I’m sure the $2.5m is a bittersweet reward when you’re getting death threats for doing the right thing.
Hopefully AFP and NSW Police do what they can to protect him from reprisals.
https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/donations-for-bondi-hero-ahmed-al-ahmed-pass-25-million/news-story/31753eadcf29750e354970ea23fe1f4f
He's also likely to lose a lot of the use of his arm, and they are apparently still concerned they may have to amputate it. I'd hope that's enough of a deterrent.
2.5 million doesn't go anywhere near as far when you have also likely significantly increased your ongoing medical expenses forever and also decreased your earning potential (likely there are jobs he used to do himself at the shop that he will now need to hire someone for).
Yeah, to say nothing of how dystopian it feels for random unrelated influencers to come out of the wood work for their share of the attention/monetisation, I feel like this must just be so much to navigate all at once. To go from being a normal guy having a day at the beach, to almost dying (to put it mildly), to accidentally becoming an extremely public figure (no doubt with a non-zero amount of people hoping to Milkshake Duck him, considering the disgusting misinformation retconning his ethnicity), then a turn like this where one has to reckon with such a horrible event suddenly being, effectively, one of the best things that's ever happened to them (and tone-deafly presented as such with a big novelty cheque), and how badly that must mix with any potential survivors guilt... And that's all before he's even out of hospital! The guy doesn't even know if he'll be able to keep his arm yet. Any one of these things is so much to process, and fundamentally life changing.
It just feels like people are starting to make this about their need for a hero/celebrity, or their need to perform appreciation, etc. Like, this wasn't filmed for his sake, it was filmed so an influencer can make money off of people who want to watch it and feel good about it. The man's already done more than enough, he doesn't exist as a prop to help us process our feelings about what happened, he's got plenty to process for himself. Just give him is money off camera and give him some peace, at least until the dang morphine wears off.
But hopefully that's just me projecting my own discomfort with the thought of being in his shoes, hopefully he's chill and is surrounded by good advocates.
Agreed. There was that couple who tackled the fuckers when they got out of their car. But it seems they got killed point blank.
Id rather their families got giant novelty cheques, if giant novelty cheques have to be a thing.
But at least Ahmed (legend that he is) still has his life.
That couple have nothing but a side-note, despite being just as heroic, if not more - given that it seems they weren't trained in this kind of thing like Ahmed was.
They have a gofundme too, for their family. Has raised $680k to date.
That couple were my first thought too.
I really hope the money doesn’t turn into a source of in-fighting or stress for his extended family. That would be horrible to hear a few years out that it’s caused rifts or bankruptcies
Feels very 2025.
It does.
I want him to be rewarded for his heroism. I want him taken care of.
I also have to wonder why people have donated so much more to certain victims than others. Ahmed is a hero but he's alive, his kids haven't lost their dad. Whereas e.g. Rabbi Eli Schlanger was killed, leaving 4 dependent children but only about a fifth as much money has been donated to them. Less than was donated to the families of Sofia and Boris Gurman, or Matilda (may their memories be forever a blessing) despite no dependent kids having lost a parent.
I'm trying not to read too much into it, but it feels somehow like a popularity contest and seems to speak somehow to the different ways we value people.
Feels dirty as fuck that an influencer who doesn't even live here is the one who gave it to him.
Especially as that elderly couple that got killed trying to disarm the shooter originally, got basically zero recognition.
I also feel that it's just a little off giving someone money to do the right thing, I get some form of compensation, but getting millions feels off.
Agree. Like I’d fully support raising funds to recover from his injuries and even some wage protection, but a random massive cheque feels awkward.
Maybe this will happen, but I wonder if that money is better spent financially supporting funerals, memorials and other celebration of life to those tragically lost (and their families)?
I legit cried over Ahmed's words, which were noble, sincere and humble, but yeah it kinda sucks a little that the vehicle for them is a broccoli-haired influencer whose ultimate goal is clicks and views and whose ultimate product is himself.
Yeah I get you.
I look at it like this: in times when we have seen our worst, it is a coping mechanism to obsessively shower praise on this who were in that moment at our best. It's not even all about the man, but also an idea.
I'm okay with that, but it does feel a little weird.
As in this being different to the norm or someway unethical? because on the latter I disagree. Heroism ought to be encouraged and rewarded.
In what way? Him getting the actual money for the good deed? Or the way they presented it to him like he won the lottery?
The Mr Beast style of charity.
Insane headline too, bizarre jingoism. Ahmed deserves praise and recognition but this is bizarre glory hounding by outsiders.
Very weird. I'm happy for him to get something, good on him for his actions. But what exactly were people thinking when they donated money here? Was it just akin to shouting someone a beer for doing you a favour? Or did they think he needed the money for some reason?
As soon as it was revealed who he was I knew the media and gov was going to parade him around more than others that have done similar in the past. It’s a pretty transparent desperate performance to avoid the uptick in anti-Islam sentiment that happens after these attacks. Which doesn’t make it entirely wrong but… feels a bit odd.
Did it have to be filmed? Did it really need to happen from his hospital bed? Could it not have waited until after his recovery?
I am all for him getting the money, he deserves all the rewards he can get and wish him all the best, truly. But the way this was done feels kind of gross.
The amount of people who have visited and have taken a photo op, he should be charging them $50k per photo,
Honestly. The amount of opportunism by everyone involved in this tragedy, from Gofundme's giant cheque to the Premier banning protests, is disgusting
Nothing like influencers publicising someone else's work and taking money from all the engagement generated, influencers would never have ulterior motives!
/r/WhyWereTheyFilming - pretty much sums up whats wrong with the modern "influencer" world.
Yep, while it is good to see him get the money, clearly was used by the influencers for free PR - would've been much better if they had a representative from the Jewish Community involved.
I agree. Heal First. Recognise Later
Look at his instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/mdmotivator/?hl=en
It had to be filmed because this guys professional brand is to insert himself into various situations to get the 'money shot' video/picture.
Not saying whats hes doing isnt necessarily good (or bad), just pointing out hes inserting himself into all sorts of situations and some of them make you a little cringe or uncomfortable. Giving homeless people money on camera while making sure its all filmed etc.
One of his post comments, "Follow u/mdmotivator and drop a comment within the next 7 days for your chance to win $1000 🥹❤️" and "Ps. Scroll to the end for another cash giveaway that I hope you enter and win. Goodluck! ❤️".
But why is this random online nobody the one who presents the money? Wasn’t the Go Fund Me organised by a car sales company?
It’s odd.
Then Car Hub Australia has nothing about it on their page?
I hope there is a go fund me set up for the family of the couple who initially and heroically tried to stop them and got killed.
There is a link for all the Bondi shooting fund-raisers.
https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/act/bondi-beach-shooting-fundraisers
There is. It’s at 600k+ now.
There's also fundraisers for the young two policemen who were shot via NSW Police Legacy. One of them has lost vision in his eye.
Link? Let’s upvote it.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-sofia-boris-gurman
Thanks! Just donated! Their family deserves to know how much everyone thinks of them as hero’s too!
I'd rather we didn't distribute charity based on spectacle. Imagine how different this would be if these things weren't captured on video or even made headlines. If there's a need to help finance resulting healthcare shortfalls, demand our government provide it.
The acts should be celebrated and such character further idealised in society but they shouldn't attract what amounts to winning the lottery. It shouldn't be about money. If people want to be charitable, there's endless animal shelters, mental health initiatives, starving kids an ocean away - you name it - that go ignored every day by those throwing money around here.
He is a hero! Many of the victim's family's GoFundMes have not made their goals, so would be nice to see theirs get boosted too:
https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/act/bondi-beach-shooting-fundraisers
I really hope they cap his go fund me. While he deserves the money, others are really suffering too and will need money as well.
I have issues with this whole aspect of the aftermath but if we're doing this I'd at least want it all pooled and distributed equally.
hope this gentleman can retire and enjoy succulent meals 24/7
And he deserves every cent 💗
Hope he gets himself a nice house and car if he doesnt have them already and gets served free dinners anywhere he goes for the rest of his life
I hope he gets himself a good financial advisor. Most people who receive this kind of windfall wind up in financial stress or bankruptcy.
No, most low income, financially illiterate people who receive this kind of windfall do. Dude is already a business owner and respectable family man.
Doesn’t mean there isn’t the possibility of people/family taking advantage of him. Money changes anyone including family.
Hell, I’m even willing to go all the way to the shire and cook him a meal.
Sadly maybe not enough to buy in Bondi
Im not sure how comfortable I am with professional and opportunistic 'social media influencer' like this inserting himself (literally physically) into this.
What do I mean by professional and opportunistic? Well take a look at his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdmotivator/?hl=en . You'll notice straight away. Mr Ahmed received this incredible amount of money from someone who trots the globe giving new cars to housewives, money to homeless people, prizes to random people in shopping centres - and yes, heros who stop mass shootings and terrorist attacks mixed in those other situations too - all of course with the camera turned on to make sure its filmed and posted to his 8.8million insta account ;)
Though sometimes the circumstances differ ("I just bought you a brand new car!!!!!"). Giving homeless people money on camera while making sure its all filmed etc.
- Mr Ahmed hasn't won lotto, like the giant-sized cheque would first lead you to believe. These sort of theatrics are questionable at best.... or outright tacky here (given the context of what happened). More suited to Price-is-Right.
- I couldnt help but notice the irony that the Social Media Inlfuencer is front and CENTRE of this picture, with Mr Ahmed himself off to the side and partially obscured by the cheque the influencer is proudly smiling and holding.
- Id have more respect for the gofundme organiser if they showed the humility and grace to bestow the honour of giving Mr Ahmed this cheque to a more appropriate person.
I dont know how integrally/personally responsible this guy was in making sure an amazing amount of money was raised and directed to Mr Ahmed. Its wonderful that happened but is it something that really needs to come from these types of 'professional influencers'... its a bit...self serving? weird? awkward? cringe? uncomfortable?
Do you find it 100% heartwarming, or does some degree of self-serving tacky-ness/shallowness creep in when you look at his instagram?
Am I a cynical asshole for thinking this? Here is one of this recent posts, "Follow u/mdmotivator and drop a comment within the next 7 days for your chance to win $1000 🥹❤️" and "Ps. Scroll to the end for another cash giveaway that I hope you enter and win. Goodluck! ❤️"
Deserved, sure, but why is some yank influencer delivering it? None of that needed to be filmed for some other dude's clout.
Zack is a Canadian who used to study medicine in Usyd.
So he used to study medicine, and now he chases clout?
Thats probably why
My point remains. He inserted himself into a situation that he wasn't a part of, just to make sure his face was all over it. If he's Canadian, I wonder what he spent on this trip to Australia for a giant cheque photo op, instead of just donating that much...
Studied for 1 year, failed and had to drop out because he spent too much time making social media content
Cunts get like 200k for being racist at work. Glad to see someone who actually deserves it!
…?
Reread what they said. They’re referring to OTHER gofundmes that racists create to grift other racists after they’re fired from their job for being racist
You’re right, after rereading it I interpreted it exactly as you have. Clear as day. How silly of me.
Yeah I also had to double take and a question how it had so many upvotes
in the US probably
What about the young cop just months in the job who has lost his sight/ eye?
There is a go fund me for him (Jack Hibbert) as well https://www.gofundme.com/en-au/c/act/bondi-beach-shooting-fundraisers
It'd be good if some money also found its way to pay the funeral expenses of the couple who also attempted to stop the shooter and were executed.
At the least, maybe bury them with full honors paid for by the taxpayer.
Their go fund me is around $700k at the moment.
Research is hard, isnt it?
Would've taken less effort to google than to comment
https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-sofia-boris-gurman
Thanks for the link. I wonder why you also felt the need to make a sarcastic, belittling comment?
Bravo.
This guy is definitely a hero, but it changed my outlook when I heard about the guy that intervened a lot earlier and got himself and his wife killed bc the shooter had another gun.
It shouldn't change your outlook. It doesn't make Ahmed less heroic?
He also almost certainly wouldn't have even known about their actions? But even if he did, how does that change anything?
It doesn't change anything about Ahmed. He probably weighed up a lot of things in making his decision. He's just as much of a hero.
It changes my outlook from aspiring to be someone who would act bravely in a similar situation, to having to face the grim reality that it likely will not end well, and knowing that choosing not to act out of cowardice or wisdom would be indistinguishable. I hope I never get to find out.
Isnt there other 2 people trying to unarmed the suspects but die? Hopefully they will be celebrated too. Rip
If i was a millionaire and this man saved my kids or parents or any family member i would also reward him that money. He deserves it!
Jewish-American billionaire Bill Ackman donated $99,999 to each of the GoFundMes for Ahmed and the Gurmans (couple that died) and I think also to some of the other victims
Well deserved! I hope he recover soon.
Is there a gofundme for the police who were injured?
There's ones set up through Police Legacy for both officers Police Legacy
Give him an AC gong on Australia Day.
I'm sure he'll get a Cross of Valour (the Victoria cross equivalent for non military bravery).
Just give the man the money and let him recover in peace. Do they have to film him in the damn hospital?
Someone hands me a 2.5 milly cheque laying in a hospital be, better have a bed pan on hand.
The NSW government opened grant applications today for victims, families and impacted business via snsw app/website
I found it funny how several videos I watched from American YouTubers thought the money was being raised for his medical bills. A whole flood of Aussies were in the comments quickly correcting them with, "Uhhh, we have free healthcare here. The GoFundMe was just to thank him for being an absolute badass hero!"
Hope things turn out good
Legend
Nice that he can now buy a 1 bedroom unit in Sydney.
I was anticipating him donating it all to a victims fund; but also kind of hoped he wouldn't, he deserves it. I'm sure there are others who deserve it too, but happy to see him become an example here.
Why should the individual do that? Why not the Government? He’s probably injured so badly that if it wasn’t for community support he could lose his business. Then what? He becomes a number in our cooked welfare system? Essentially the hand up he’d get from the country he risked his life to protect.
I'm guessing there are reasons why a government wouldn't want to incentivise this stuff. Hinting at sancrtioned cash rewards for bravery, could see vigilantism rise for less extreme life and death situations. ie. people seeking situtaions to inject themselves into for the chance of reward. There's also the issue of quantifying this stuff... you just know it when you see it, probably best to let it happen organically.
I hope he doesn't.
Firstly, the NSW government has the victim support scheme, so they will all get money from that. Plus many of the other victims have go fund mes too.
Additionally he's likely lost a lot of function in that arm forever, and he's still at risk of losing the arm. 2.5 million actually doesn't go THAT far if you can't work anymore and you have a family to support.
Obviously I hope all the other victims get all the financial support they need to, but I hope he doesn't feel he needs to give this money away.
Come on. He has to look after himself. Even if he was well enough to go back to his shop, that area will have less foot traffic in the short term now.
I feel he is someone who would share the money with others impacted.
Aussie Ahmed, true blue bloody legend.
The dude is a legend. Enjoy the rest of your days without a worry old boy.
He deserves that and a medal from the PM bravery medal.
oi oi oi!!!
Bro shouldn’t have to pay tax for the rest of his life.
Deserved. Hopefully the crazies don't harass him too much.
I’ve always found nationalistic pride super cringe but dammit if I’m not tearing up right now at his Aussie Aussie Aussie!! Ahmed is the best of us. What a legend!
He totally deserves this. That being said, he has received more donations than all the victims’ families COMBINED. Please donate to them here.
Good on him,
Yet half of our politicians will have you believe he shouldn’t be here because he is is Syrian, or Muslim or both
Good on him , he could have died doing what he did. I guess he’s got a good deposit on a 2X1 in Sydney now. I wonder if the ATO will get their sticky fingers into his reward.
Gifts are not taxed in Australia.
I'm convinced it's yanks commenting about the government taking the money because they clearly have ZERO idea of how our system works.
That’s good he deserves every cent.
Cringe ass media coverage. The way they treat these events is sickening. It's like they've happy this shooting happened
I really admire his courage.