Current:Home > ContactVideo shows California principal's suggestive pep rally dancing. Now he's on leave. -FundSphere
Video shows California principal's suggestive pep rally dancing. Now he's on leave.
View
Date:2025-04-16 13:24:41
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! (15727)
Related
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- TGI Fridays says it's closing 36 underperforming restaurants across U.S. Here's where they are.
- Arizona lawmakers face big deficit due mostly to massive tax cut and school voucher expansion
- NRA chief, one of the most powerful figures in US gun policy, says he’s resigning days before trial
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- House Republicans to move toward holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress
- Official suggests Polish president check social media security after odd tweet from private account
- Pet food recall expands to 16 states. Here's what you need to know.
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Suit challenges required minority appointments to Louisiana medical licensing board
Ranking
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Radio reporter fired over comedy act reinstated after an arbitrator finds his jokes ‘funny’
- Oscar Pistorius Released From Prison on Parole 11 Years After Killing Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
- San Quentin project’s $360 million price tag should be slashed, governor’s advisory group says
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- WWII-era munitions found under water in survey of Southern California industrial waste dump site
- How much money do college and university presidents make?
- Why Rams are making a mistake resting Matt Stafford – and Lions doing the right thing
Recommendation
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Vatican concludes former Minnesota archbishop acted imprudently but committed no crimes
Trump should be barred from New York real estate industry, fined $370 million, New York Attorney General Letitia James says
The year in review: 2023's most popular movies, music, books and Google searches
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
AP PHOTOS: In idyllic Kashmir’s ‘Great Winter,’ cold adds charm but life is challenging for locals
Perry High School principal distracted shooter, saved lives, daughter says
B-1 bomber crashed during training mission in South Dakota; aircrew members ejected safely