CARROLLTON, Ga. (WSAV) — Two high school seniors were expelled and will reportedly not graduate after posting a racist video on social media.
Two seniors at Carrollton High School posted the video on TikTok on Thursday, where it quickly went viral and spread across other social media platforms. The video shows the students using the n-word and saying derogatory things about African Americans.
The students, a boy and a girl, can be seen in a bathroom mimicking a cooking show using labeled cups of water.
“First, we have ‘black’,” the girl says as the boy pours a cup of water in the sink. “Next, we have ‘don’t have a dad’.”
The two then pour cups of water labeled “Eat watermelon and fried chicken,” “Rob people,” and “Go to jail” into the sink, and skip pouring a cup labeled “Make good choices.”
The students were quickly identified, and Carrollton City School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Albertus issued a statement Thursday night.
On Friday, the school system released another statement, announcing the expulsion of the students.
“Two Carrollton High School students who were featured in a racially offensive TikTok video that spread across social media platforms last night are no longer students in the Carrollton City School District,” Albertus says in the statement, saying he was “deeply disturbed” by the “unacceptable” behavior.
Some questioned whether school officials could punish the students if the video was filmed outside school hours, but CHS Principal David Brooks says that not being at school does not alleviate a studen’s’ responsibility to uphold a high standard of behavior.
“It is our priority to keep our schools safe, and there is no doubt this incident has caused significant tension at Carrollton High School, across the district, state and nation – even the world,” Brooks says.
Officials said in the statement that the school system takes pride in its diverse student population and considers it a strength.
“This incident does not reflect the culture of Carrollton City Schools,” Albertus says. “We are very proud of our diversity and so is our entire community. We don’t need to lose sight of this important attribute because of the actions of a few.”
A school district spokesperson confirmed to news outlets that the students will not be graduating as planned at the end of the spring semester.
