The Moment Everything Changed

Interview with Jaaziel Bournes, Founder of Teens First, Teen Rights, and The Bournes Group

Q: When did it all start? I was around 10, going into 6th grade summer. I didn’t know what peer pressure really was — I just thought it was normal. My cousin, who I trusted, started daring me to do things. He made it seem cool, like it was just jokes. I didn’t realize he was recording me. I didn’t even know he had the video until he got mad and leaked it in a group chat at my middle school.

Q: What was in the video? It started with a Subway Surfers clip — you know, that split-screen stuff people use to keep attention. Then it cut to me. One of my old video messages, where I was being goofy and feminine. I was raised by a single mom, no father figure, and I was overweight. I didn’t know how to act “masculine,” and I got clowned for it. Then came the leak — a naked photo of me. I didn’t even know it existed.

Q: How did people react? It spread fast. Kids laughed, pointed, mocked me. I was called the f-slur — the kind used to target LGBTQ kids. It got so big, even teachers heard about it. One teacher’s daughter sent it to my mom. She wasn’t mad at me — she was mad at the community. But the damage was done. I felt humiliated, misunderstood, and alone.

Q: Looking back, how do you see it now? Honestly? It was goofy. I laugh now — not because it wasn’t serious, but because I see how young and vulnerable I was. At that age, your brain isn’t even wired to handle risk properly. The prefrontal cortex — the part that controls judgment and impulse — isn’t fully developed until your mid-20s. My cousin took advantage of that. He knew I trusted him. He knew I wanted to fit in. And he used that to humiliate me.

Q: What did that experience teach you? It taught me that kids need protection — not just from strangers, but from people close to them. That’s why I’m launching Teens First. It’s a platform where kids can report situations like mine. Yeah, there’ll be judgment. But I don’t care anymore. I’m older now. I’m working on leaving Delaware, and at this point, I’m getting legal with everything. If I see it? Lawsuit. laughs

Identity, Judgment, and Breaking Stereotypes

Q: How has your background shaped you? I come from a rich heritage. My mom’s side is Trini-Jamaican. My dad’s side is African American. My great-great-grandmother was a redheaded white woman allegedly tied to the U.S. slave trade. That history runs deep. It shapes how I see myself.

But even now, people look at me and say, “You play football?” Just because I’m colored and buff. The answer is no. I’m into tech, politics, science — building systems that break stereotypes. I want to become a billionaire, move out of Delaware, and reshape how people see youth like me.

Q: Has judgment come from unexpected places? Absolutely. A lot of the hate I’ve received has come from Black people. Not all, but enough to leave a mark. Some see a young colored kid doing better, thinking differently, and they react with hostility. I’ve been mocked, threatened, rejected — not because I failed, but because I refused to fit their mold.

Transformation Through Discipline

Q: How did you start to change? I had anger problems. I felt boxed in. Then I heard Andrew Tate say: “No one is coming to help you. They talk about you — prove them wrong.” I didn’t agree with everything he said, but that mindset hit hard. I took what I needed and left the rest. “Eat the meat, spit out the bones,” as we used to say — half-joking, half defensive.

I built discipline. I lost weight. I sharpened my mind. I stopped waiting for someone to save me and started becoming someone who could lead.

Faith, Science, and Purpose

Q: Where does your faith fit into all this? I’m a Freewill Reformed Baptist. I believe in the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. My faith isn’t just emotional — it’s intellectual. I’m a Christian apologist who loves science and the cosmos. I don’t see a contradiction between faith and reason. I see a calling to understand both.

That blend of theology and curiosity is part of what makes me who I am. I don’t fit into boxes. I break them.

Advocacy and the Road Ahead

Q: What are you building now? I chose advocacy. I started drafting teen work contracts, pushing for youth employment reform, and organizing campaigns to change how society sees young people. I’m expected to attend Patriot Academy, where I’ll study law, liberty, and leadership. That’s not just a program — it’s preparation.

I’m 14, turning 15. I’ve lived through trauma, rejection, and transformation. And I’m using it all to build something real. I want to move out of Delaware, reshape youth labor laws, and create infrastructure that empowers teens to lead. I want to build my own multi-billion dollar business and thrive.

Q: Any final thoughts? Success comes with risk. Especially for young colored people who rise above. I’ve seen it firsthand — some Black individuals have tried to tear me down just because I refused to stay small.

But I hold onto this promise: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” I walk with purpose, and I walk with divine covering.

This isn’t just my past — it’s my foundation. This isn’t just a leak — it’s a testimony. I am Jaaziel Bournes, and I’m walking in truth, purpose, and power.