Headmaster gives “lap dance” and twerks in front of students, causing anger among parents
Footage of a high school principal giving and receiving a lap dance from the school’s mascot has gone viral, infuriating parents.
Buhach Colony High School in Atwater, California, hosted a back-to-school pep rally last Friday.
But just three days into the new school year, school principal Robert Nunes found himself at the center of a social media storm after parents accused him of inappropriate behavior at the event.
Father Ryan Attebery, who has a son and two daughters at the same school, shared footage of the rally on Facebook that has since gone viral.
“Am I a square or was that damn weird for a school principal?” Attebery wrote in the caption.
The accompanying video shows the school’s mascot, Thor, taking off the principal’s hat and twerking in front of him while the students cheer.
Nunes sat casually on an office chair and appeared to enjoy the dance before firing a golden confetti cannon from his hip.
The teacher then swapped places with the mascot, pretended to push him onto the chair, and then squatted down to dance.
Amid cheers from the students, Nunes grabbed a microphone and shouted, “What happens in Buchah, stays in Buchah,” earning wild applause from the crowd of students, some of whom had gathered around the principal and the mascot.
“Hey, these are your kids, this is what they see, and you can see it too,” Attebery told ABC News affiliate KFSN.
“He may be (good), but strange is strange.
“They said something like, ‘Oh, he’s trying to be funny,’ but if he’s just trying to be funny, then just don’t be funny.”
“Or he wanted to be cool with the kids, but that’s not cool.”
According to Attebery and other parents on Facebook, the rally was allegedly themed around Las Vegas.
The video sparked mixed reactions among parents and students at the school. Many were disgusted by the students’ behavior, while others defended Nunes.
“This is disturbing. Very offensive,” one Facebook user commented on Attebery’s post.
“I don’t think this is appropriate at all! My daughter is in her first year here and I’ve heard all about it. Not cool,” wrote one angry parent.
“I would be furious if my daughter told me about this! This is disgusting!” added a third.
What happens in Buchah stays in Buchah!
Robert Nunes
Others spoke of the principal’s character as a man “widely respected and well-liked” in the community and claimed that the situation had been exaggerated.
“The teachers love him, the students love him and the colleagues love him. Stop acting like he has bad intentions,” wrote one Facebook user.
“This principal was incredible and got a lot of things right,” another said of Nunes.
“I have two children who go to school here and I am not offended.
“It’s been blown out of proportion. As a parent, I’m angry… but they’re doing this to a good person.”
A third agreed, saying it had been “blown out of proportion” before criticizing the behavior of cheerleaders at other schools during halftime shows.
“I’ve heard that morale among students and staff is much better since he’s been there. It’s a shame that people only see a short video and don’t get the full story,” they added.
In response to some of the backlash, Attebery posted an update on Facebook, saying his original post was intended to give community members the opportunity to “form their own judgment.”
“To the parents who saw this and are glad it was made public. This was for you. To everyone else. Your opinion is your opinion and you may be right. Time will tell and I hope you are right. For the sake of the students,” he added.
The Merced Union High School District is “conducting a comprehensive review of the situation,” it said in a statement to KFSN.
“While the investigation is ongoing, Mr. Nunes will not participate in any school-related tasks or activities.”
This is Nunes’ first year as principal, but he has previously worked as an educator in this school district for decades.
The US Sun has reached out to Nunes and the Merced Union School District for comment.