The Scary Guy's visit to Austin wrapped up Friday with final visits with students in his effort to help push the city closer to being a bully-free zone.
He's made presentations all over Austin Public Schools , helped bag groceries at Hy-Vee and even met with the Austin Bruins hockey players. Now CNN is back to cover part of his visit.
Wednesday night was the second community presentation for The Scary Guy. Kids, parents and community members packed the Ellis Middle School Auditorium, which holds about 350 people.
"Absolutely incredible," The Scary Guy said.
CNN was in Austin to film The Scary Guy and the group that brought him here, Community Against Bullying. CNN anchor and correspondent Randi Kaye and producer Emily Probst were in the audience watching The Scary Guy as he explained Wednesday what he does, drew a few laughs and hugs from the crowd, and answered questions.
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"I think bullying is not unique to this community and it's a national problem," Probst said. "So that's why we're here.
"We're looking at the impact that he's having on this community and his life story as well."
What makes The Scary Guy coming to Austin unique and newsworthy for CNN to come to town? Probst said it's the way the anti-bullying group has gone about fundraising and because bringing him here was started by a parent, Danielle Borgerson-Nesvold, who started the group. The Scary Guy may be seen as a proactive measure in dealing with bullying. Kaye has seen the other side of that spectrum through her work, where some situations have resulted in suicides, she said.
"For me, I would say I've covered a lot of bullying stories for CNN where it didn't end so well," Kaye said. "It's important to see what communities are doing."
The end result of the work CNN is doing in Austin will be a piece airing early next year on "CNN Presents," Probst said. A CNN crew also was in town in September, filming interviews and a Community Against Bullying meeting.
"They're here because of Austin and what they've done," The Scary Guy said.
