Titus O’Neil reminds us “There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid” in new book
WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil released his first book yesterday, and the ten-year wrestling veteran didn’t hold back as he made sure we all understand “there’s no such thing as a bad kid.”
Titus O’Neil is a former WWE Tag Team Champion and was the inaugural WWE 24/7 Champion. He was a part of NXT back before it turned into the powerhouse brand we see today.
Titus O’Neil has had several unforgettable moments throughout his career, some more embarrassing than others. Few could forget the Titus World Slide or his disastrous keg run during the original NXT days.
However, those are just things done by the character Titus O’Neil. The man behind the character has been, continues to be, and will always be much more than his role as a WWE superstar. Titus reminded us of this early in the book as he opened up about the truth of his origins.
"“In the summer of 1976, Daria Bullard was raped in her St. Augustine, Florida, home.She was 11 years old.Her attacker was her mother’s boyfriend.She gave birth to a son in Boynton Beach’s Bethesda Memorial Hospital on April 29, 1977.You know me as WWE superstar Titus O’Neil, but that’s just a character I play on TV. My real name is Thaddeus Bullard. Daria is my mom, and I am the product of that rape.”"
It may be a jarring thing to read for the first time, but it’s an integral part of the complicated story of Thaddeus Bullard becoming Titus O’Neil. By opening up about the harrowing circumstances of his own childhood, Titus O’Neil seeks to open our eyes to the ways that children can be lifted out of their circumstances.
As he often points out, O’Neil was told many times throughout his childhood that he was likely to end up “in prison or dead.” Eventually, the repetition caused the phrase to take root. It’s not exactly a supportive statement for a child to hear, and that’s exactly what Titus O’Neil is trying to wake us up to.
As he recounts his own life, O’Neil focuses not only on the grittier moments in his upbringing, but the positive role models who impacted him and helped put him on the path to success. His stories help us connect to a real-world example of a “bad kid” that too many people had written off as a lost cause.
The main title of the book, There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid, is the defining thread that Titus O’Neil is trying to help us understand. Children written off as “bad kids” by others are not beyond saving, but they need love and support in order to change their circumstances.
When a trusted mentor bestowed that phrase upon Titus O’Neil, he described the experience as a switch going off that changed the way he viewed everything. When someone told him “there’s no such thing as a bad kid,” it resonated with a young Thaddeus Bullard.
The other thing he heard from that same trusted adult was just as important, if not more, for someone at his age.
"“I want you to know that I love you and I believe in you.”"
They’re simple but powerful words. Children need guidance, but they also need encouragement. They need to feel supported and loved. Far too often, words are used to tear others down, but O’Neil reminds us that they can be far more powerful when used to build others up.
Despite everything that stood in his way, Thaddeus Bullard went on to become a University of Florida football player and graduate, Vice President of that university’s student body, a WWE Superstar, a philanthropist, and a father and role model for his two sons.
"“I am a man who proves that how you are labeled as a child does not have to define who you will become as an adult. I am a man who lives every day as proof that there is no such thing as a bad kid.”"
These are just a few glimpses of the stories Titus O’Neil tells in his debut book There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid: How I Went from Stereotype to Prototype. While fans will appreciate a few stories about O’Neil’s time in WWE, this isn’t a wrestling book.
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This is a book written by a man who plays one on television and the ways his life story can make us all more supportive of children in difficult circumstances. It’s a powerful read for anyone, whether you’re a fan of the wrestling industry or not.
While the book may seem most applicable for those who work with children in difficult circumstances, I believe it’s a must-read for all. Whether you work with children or not, O’Neil delivers a message we all need.
Stop “writing people off” or believing people, children or adult, are “lost causes.” Everyone has the potential to be loved, supported, and lifted out of their difficult circumstances.
We can’t guarantee success for others, but the least we can do is be supportive of others and try to understand the circumstances they’re in. Whether it’s a child acting out at school or a homeless man on the street, we have the power to increase their likelihood of success with our love, understanding, and support.
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There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid: How I Went from Stereotype to Prototype is available at bookstores everywhere, and can be purchased through Amazon. Check out the book now to read the story of Titus O’Neil and how his lessons can help us help others.