A 9-year-old boy says he changed his mind about forgiving a woman who called 911 to accuse him of groping her in a Brooklyn bodega.
During an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America, Jeremiah Harvey said he initially didn’t forgive Teresa Klein, also known as “Cornerstore Caroline,” for falsely accusing him of sexual harassment.
Jeremiah became an Internet sensation after his story sparked outrage on social media. Surveillance video from the store shows his book bag lightly brushed against Klein.
“It’s still hard because lately on my mind, like, I can’t think of nothing but this,” said the boy, who appeared with his mother Someko Bellille on Good Morning America on Friday.
Bellille, who was with Jeremiah in the store, disputed Klien’s claim that her 911 wasn’t racially motivated.
“She’s on the phone and she’s saying that I’m a white woman, that I’m standing in front of this deli, stating that this Black mom and her two Black kids are out here and that the son sexually assaulted me,” said Billille. “She said, Black child, Black mother and white woman.”
When asked if he forgave Klein, Jeremiah replied: “yes. Yes, I do.”
“Friendship is the key, it changed my whole mind of accepting the apology that she gave me,” he said.
Over $20,000 has been raised via Gofundme for Jeremiah, who was dubbed “The Bodega Boy”.
