Current:Home > StocksVideo shows California principal's suggestive pep rally dancing. Now he's on leave. -Elevate Capital Network
Video shows California principal's suggestive pep rally dancing. Now he's on leave.
View
Date:2025-04-12 20:54:28
A California high school principal is on leave after a parent caught wind of a suggestive dance at a pep rally.
Ryan Attebery took to Facebook on Saturday to share a 48-second snippet of a back-to-school rally held at Buhach Colony High School in Atwater, about 120 miles southeast of San Francisco.
Attebery, who has a son that attends Buhach, told NBC affiliate KSEE-TV that he took the video from his son's Instagram account and decided to re-post it on his social media account, writing in the caption: "Am I a square or was this weird (expletive) for a principal to do?"
The video shows someone dressed as the school mascot, Thor, dancing suggestively in front of Principal Robert Nunes, who is seated in a chair. At some point Nunes gets up and dances suggestively while Thor is in the chair. At some point Nunes says into the microphone: "What happens in Buhach stays in Buhach!" as students loudly cheer.
The video has garnered a mixed response online, with some coming to Nunes' defense while others called the video inappropriate.
Attebery's video had been played over 190,000 times by Friday evening.
Even though Attebery was told that students helped coordinate the event, he felt that "the fact that there were no red flags probably is a red flag," he told the station, calling the video "weird."
“At the end of the day, I would feel super guilty if five years from now something came out and I could have said something," he told the station, saying parents had a right to know.
Some called the skit 'weird,' others call it 'school spirit'
Attebery wasn't the only one who felt "weird" about the video, with multiple people echoing a similar sentiment in the comments.
"It is very weird. I’m pretty sure a Vegas theme is not appropriate for a high school event," Rosemarie Hertgen-Young wrote. "I mean gambling, strippers, lap dances etc. What was he thinking? Something was bound to go wrong."
Tiffany Thorpe agreed with Attebery's opinion, calling the skit "disturbing" and "very suggestive."
"Weird and inappropriate. Who cares if the kids thought it was funny or even planned this. They are literally KIDS who don’t have the capacity to make adult decisions," Katelyn Boose wrote. "The adults should’ve spoke up when something like this was mentioned in the planning process and said no way, that’s inappropriate."
Some thought Nunes was just showing "school spirit."
"The kids are cheering and laughing!! School Spirit!" Patty Klingerman wrote. "He’s involved with the kids in a joking manner!! For those who had anything to do with his suspension ... Shame on you!! Get a life and let your children be children."
Alexandria Juntilla wrote that she understands people thinking it's inappropriate, "but honestly, I think people need to chill out ... I remember my high school experience and the dance team was far more risky than that."
A couple of others defended Nunes, saying they knew him personally and that he was beloved by the school community.
"This man is so widely respected and loved by everyone in his community," Justin Rogers wrote. "Teachers love him, students love him and co-workers love him. Stop making it out like he had bad intensions."
'Comprehensive reviews' underway, school district says
Nunes has been on administrative leave since Monday, two days after Attebery reposted the video, according to a statement from the Merced Union High School District. The move to place Nunes on leave was the direct result of the documented "incident."
"This decision comes as part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all students and staff," Merced Union High School District said.
A "comprehensive review" of the situation is underway. Nunes will not participate in any school-related responsibilities or activities for the remainder of the investigation, according to Merced Union.
A district staff member and an associate principal have been tapped to lead the school in the interim, to "ensure the continuity of leadership and support for our students and staff."
"MUHSD will provide updates as appropriate while respecting the confidentiality of the investigation process."
USA TODAY has reached out to Buhach Colony High School for comment.
veryGood! (26686)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- This Bachelor Nation Star Is Officiating Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist's Wedding
- Biden will start the year at sites of national trauma to warn about dire stakes of the 2024 election
- 10-year-old California boy held on suspicion of shooting another child with his father’s gun
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Things to know about Minnesota’s new, non-racist state flag and seal
- The 31 Essential Items That You Should Actually Keep in Your Gym Bag
- As Atlantic City adds more security cameras, 2 men are killed in areas already covered by them
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Shawn Mendes Shares Message About “Lows of Life” Amid Mental Health Journey
Ranking
- Mega Millions winning numbers for August 6 drawing: Jackpot climbs to $398 million
- Zvi Zamir, ex-Mossad chief who warned of impending 1973 Mideast war, dies at 98
- Rams' Kyren Williams heads list of 2023's biggest fantasy football risers
- Fiery Rochester crash appears intentional, but no evidence of terrorism, officials say
- Former Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder after video shows them holding down Black man
- Arizona border crossing with Mexico to reopen a month after migrant influx forced closure
- Remains of mother who vanished in 2012 found in pond near Disney World, family says
- Only half of Americans believe they can pay off their December credit card bill
Recommendation
Residents in Alaska capital clean up swamped homes after an ice dam burst and unleashed a flood
These jobs saw the biggest pay hikes across the U.S. in 2023
Stock market today: Asian markets track Wall Street’s decline, eroding last year’s gains
As Atlantic City adds more security cameras, 2 men are killed in areas already covered by them
US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
‘Black Panther’ performer Carrie Bernans identified as pedestrian hurt in NYC crash
Gun restriction bills on tap in Maine Legislature after state’s deadliest mass shooting
Man shoots woman and police officers in Hawaii before being killed in New Year’s Day shootout