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Child actor Jack Veal took to TikTok on Sunday, December 1 to ask his followers for help.
“I’m a famous actor, I’m 17, and I’m homeless,” said Veal, who played a young version of the titular character in Marvel’s Loki. “I’ve been sleeping in the streets,” he went on to explain, then added, “I’m currently sleeping in a trailer that has smashed in windows. It’s unsafe.”
The actor, who also appeared in Netflix series The End of the F***ing World and Academy Award-nominated film The Favourite, said that he was abused at home, and that he suffered “physical violence and emotional abuse.”
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
Veal also explained that he struggles with mental health, and has “autism and ADHD,” along with other problems. “At the moment, I have nothing else,” he said. “I am on my knees, begging for you guys to just share this.”
TikTok viewers were quick to respond with advice and words of comfort aimed at the actor. “My boy, you’re going to get out of this, we Marvel fans aren’t crazy enough to leave you,” wrote one. Another viewer gave practical advice, writing, “Contact shelter or citizens advice and also your self to your local council and tell them your homeless they can help I hope you get the help you need 🥺.” Veal alleged in the video that social services refused to help him.
On Monday, December 2, the actor posted an additional video to TikTok, in which he thanked his followers for their help. “Because of you guys, I’m going to sleep at a friend’s tonight instead of on the street,” he explained. Veal went on, however, to say that just finding a place to sleep wasn’t his goal. Instead, he said, “the objective here is to get help from the people who are meant to provide it, social services.”
Although he appreciates offers of places to stay, he explained that if he “[hopped] place to place, there will never be any stability in [his] life.” Veal asked viewers to share his video to shed light on the issue of homeless teens. “Ive seen so many other comments of people who really relate to what I’m going through,” he said, before adding, “that’s f***ed up. That’s not right.”
In an update on Tuesday, December 3, the actor confirmed that he was able to sleep at a friend’s house and that he was “putting pressure on social services.”
