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The elusive rare furry Simba Ooshies are certainly bringing out the worst in people and this couple has had enough!

A lucky farmer from Victoria hit the jackpot during his Woolies shop and scored one of only 100 of the rare Ooshies.

Each of these prized toys is numbered and Stephen Black and his partner Melissa Portingale found number one – making it even more valuable than ever.

Other finders of the Simba’s have sold the mini lion cubs for crazy amounts online and have suffered horrific abuse from trolls during the process.

The farmers desperately needed money for water and other supplies for their land so they followed suit and put the Ooshie up for sale for $5,000.

Terrible Trolls

But they were absolutely shocked and disgusted by the response.

Melissa spoke to Nine Network saying: “We were sort of really desperate for money to help the farm so we put a post up on Facebook asking if anyone wanted to buy it.”

“We said we were asking about $5000 for it and people were disgusted, the abuse started and it was just hate and suicidal threats and some really awful things were said.”

The couple then tried to instead offer a barter deal and trade the toy for water but the trolls simply got worse.

Melissa says these comments could have a devastating effect:

“Especially when you’re pushed to the limits as it is, and your mental state at the best of time is really really stretched then you get the abuse on top of it, it’s very difficult especially when we’re just trying to do what we can to survive, it’s very un-Australian.”

Destroy The Bullying

So the farmer decided to make a big visible statement about online bullying and has taken a pair of scissors to it and cut up the Ooshie on live television.

rare lion king ooshie cut
Simba gets cut. Source: Channel 9

“If we were on the edge like some of the farmers are that have taken their lives because it got too much, this stuff may have pushed us over the edge.

“We are taking a stand against this online bullying. It’s just not on.”

In a related incident, we reported on a mum in Queensland who was brought to tears after copping abuse and death threats from trolls online. “I made the mistake of putting it up as $7,500 open for bids and, that night, I received over 400 messages getting told I was a waste of space, that I take up too much oxygen and that they hope karma will get me.”

What would you do if you got a rare Ooshie? Tell us in the comments below.

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  • All round this is just total madness

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  • I can’t believe he destroyed it, makes my heat break as y daughter wants one so much

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  • I understand why he would do this however there is no place for trolls who are sad, insecure, faceless and scared cowards.

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  • Bullying is never ok. However, if we dig a little deeper, the root cause of this is really a marketing ploy by Woolworths gone wrong. Why would they sell storage boxes for Ooshie if they are almost impossible to complete due to the ‘rare’ items? Customers have been set up to fail.

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  • People have gone mad. And it is the behaviour of the adults that is worse. Just ridiculous and shameful.

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  • It’s a toy, seriously who cares but bullying is not ok, people need to think before they speak

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  • People need to move on if they don’t like it. They found it and can do whatever they like with it. If someone wants to pay big money for it, so be it. People sell rare stuff all the time, or anything to make a profit. Are they to be bashed for making money too?

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  • First mistake, don’t use facebook!! Other websites where you can sell you can avoid all the trolls. Bit nasty some people, trolling must be a hobby for some people. Sad that no one got to enjoy the rare ooshie though and the farmer did not get his needed money for water.

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  • I understand their distress. If they were working for someone else and got retrenched they could go to centrelink for help. It’s not the same for farmers. If you think they are trying to rip you off why bother to answer their ad. I agree bullying is out of control. I hope they at least got some help for the farm and they are now being left alone

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  • Trolls really need to stop. Good on them making a stand. I have mixed feelings. I don’t think something gotten free should be sold at all let alone for such expensive amounts. That being said if I found one I could use the cash.

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  • Such a shame they had to resort to this – they needed the money and they had a way to get it, and these bullies destroyed their chance!

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  • very sad that some people feel the need to troll…they may need help one day so why not just be kind

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  • Trolling is getting out of control these days. Before I hit send or post on a new comment I always have a little worry about how others will react

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  • This trolling and bullying is motivated by jealousy & greed and I have no words for it. I can understand this farmers desire to cut this Ooshie in pieces

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  • Just ridiculous. If one doesn’t want it simply just don’t buy it. No need to shame people.

    Reply

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