RJ Mitte was brutally bullied for his physical condition. His bully once choked him and left him with a broken hand.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleBreaking Bad star RJ Mitte tragically died on October 12, 2026. He was just 34 when he breathed his last. The cause of his death has been confirmed by his rep. to PEOPLE as suicide. The news broke the hearts of his friends, family, and well-wishers. RJ's tragic demise made netizens look back at his life struggles, which were marked by ailments and mental health issues. He was vocal about his personal challenges, including facing immense bullying as a child.
RJ Mitte, who rose to fame as Breaking Bad's 'Walter White Jr.', had a tough life. Beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, he struggled with cerebral palsy, a condition with which he was diagnosed at an early age of three. RJ once shared that his physical condition made him the target of bullies, who brutally beat him up during childhood. Recounting a painful instance, RJ said that a bully hit him so hard that his hand broke.
Besides that, the bully also allegedly choked RJ out, then pulled him by his hoodie and threw him on the ground. The incident took place when the actor was a preteen of 12, and it's shocking how kids of that age could be so aggressive. RJ mentioned that his accounts of violence were just a part of what he went through. He added that he faced such abuse from other kids throughout his childhood years. Recounting the brutal incident, he stated:
"I went through the wringer. I had my hand broken. I got choked out…(A bully) grabbed the back of my hoodie and pulled and threw me on the ground. That's just some of it."
RJ shared his personal experiences in the hope that someone somewhere might get motivated to take a stand against bullying. He expressed disappointment that people often watch someone get beaten to death rather than stepping in to help. The actor couldn't fathom how someone could be heartless enough to be a spectator of violence and not try to stop it. Expressing his dismay, he stated:
"At the end of the day, people will watch someone get beaten... They'll watch. They'll let someone get beaten to death. They won't do anything."
At just three years old, RJ Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. To straighten his feet, the doctors put his legs in a cast for six months. He was later fitted with leg braces and used crutches throughout most of his childhood. While sports and exercise made him stronger and he no longer needed walking devices, he became a vocal advocate for disability rights.
In 2016, RJ Mitte spoke about disabled persons getting more chances in Hollywood. Revealing how he used his own experience for his character in Breaking Bad, RJ Mitte said:
“I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today without my disability. I utilized everything I know about living with cerebral palsy for my role in ‘Breaking Bad.’ It was my acting ability that landed me the role, although my disability helped get me the part of Walt Junior- like everyone else, I went through a grueling audition process.”
Mitte founded the Mitte Foundation, which supports various philanthropic efforts and people with disabilities. The actor was set to host the 2016 Paralympic Games and said the Paralympics gave him a special platform to raise awareness about this issue.
What are your thoughts on RJ Mitte's tragic account of being bullied for his physical condition? Let us know.
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