Current:Home > NewsVideo shows California principal's suggestive pep rally dancing. Now he's on leave. -Profound Wealth Insights
Video shows California principal's suggestive pep rally dancing. Now he's on leave.
View
Date:2025-04-13 19:02:33
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! (55)
Related
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- North Carolina legislature cracks down on pornography sites with new age verification requirements
- Zelenskyy visiting Canada for first time since war started seeking to shore up support for Ukraine
- It's a love story, baby just say yes: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, the couple we need
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Sophie Turner Says She Had Argument With Joe Jonas on His Birthday Before He Filed for Divorce
- Rupert Murdoch steps down as chairman of Fox and News Corp; son Lachlan takes over
- As California's toxic Salton Sea shrinks, it's raising health alarms for the surrounding community
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Singer Sufjan Stevens relearning to walk after Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosis
Ranking
- American news website Axios laying off dozens of employees
- Prince William's Earthshot Prize announces finalists for 2023 awards
- Brazil’s Bolsonaro denies proposing coup to military leaders
- BET co-founder Sheila Johnson says writing new memoir helped her heal: I've been through a lot
- US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
- Travis Barker’s Son Landon Releases First Song “Friends With Your EX” With Charli D’Amelio Cameo
- 2 teens held in fatal bicyclist hit-and-run video case appear in adult court in Las Vegas
- Things to know about California’s new proposed rules for insurance companies
Recommendation
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
Hawaii economists say Lahaina locals could be priced out of rebuilt town without zoning changes
Man charged with murder for killing sister and 6-year-old niece in head-on car crash
Lahaina residents brace for what they’ll find as they return to devastated properties in burn zone
Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean
Sophie Turner Reunites With Taylor Swift for a Girls' Night Out After Joe Jonas Lawsuit
US wage growth is finally outpacing inflation. Many Americans aren't feeling it.