California school principal learns ultimate fate after suspension over video of him giving lap dance and twerking in front of students
A California high school principal was terminated after a video of him dancing inappropriately with the school mascot went viral. Now he has learned what happened to him.
Buhach Colony High School’s Robert Nunes was initially suspended after video footage showed him sliding on an office chair in the school gym as its Viking mascot approached him during a school year start-of-year assembly in Atwater, California.
After being suspended for his stunt last month, he decided to resign last week.
However, after his firing, the school district decided that Nunes would still be allowed to attend the school, but would be demoted to the role of “assistant principal.”
The scandal began after Nunes was seen in the video twerking to the soundtrack of Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’.
The principal of a California high school has been demoted after a video of him dancing inappropriately with the school mascot went viral
Nunes was placed on administrative leave last month after the video and then resigned. He has now been demoted to the position of deputy director
The video, posted to social media, shows Buhach Colony High School’s Robert Nunes sliding into an office chair as the school mascot walks toward him during an assembly celebrating the start of the school year.
Nunes was then seen using a confetti cannon to simulate something inappropriate while aiming at the mascot, before switching places with the gun — all to the cheers of hundreds of students.
Nunes then spins around, dances across the mascot’s chest and places his hands on it. Then you hear someone ask him if he wants to say anything.
“What happens in Buhach, stays in Buhach,” Nunes could be heard shouting, the infamous slogan of people visiting Las Vegas.
The crowd went wild as students ran onto the basketball court and surrounded the principal to honor him.
But Nunes’ participation in the stunt brought unwanted attention to the school and the district, and the media attention led many to question whether Nunes was fit for a leadership role at the school.
The school district in particular did not appear to take Nunes’ behavior seriously, despite the fact that the dance with the mascot took place with the approval of the students.
“This decision is part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all students and staff,” the Merced Union High School District said in a statement Thursday. “Corrective actions have been taken with all staff involved.”
Torrin Johnson served as interim director while Nunes was on administrative leave and will continue in that role until further notice.
Many of those who commented online were unhappy with the suggestive nature of the video
Nunes appeared to take part in a skit organised by the students
Nunes can be seen pushing the mascot out of the school gym
The school district plans to hire a new permanent principal to fill the position in the spring.
Over the past few weeks, the clip has been circulating in local and national news, eventually reaching the popular LibsofTikTok social media account.
Ryan Attebery, a parent of two students at the school who submitted the video, said he was most shocked by the children’s defense of Nunes.
“Could be a good guy. I don’t know him, but I hear a lot of students supporting him,” Attebery said ABC30.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, he’s trying to be funny,’ but if you’re trying to be funny, just don’t be funny. Or he was trying to be cool with the kids, but that’s not cool,” he added.
An anonymous parent defended Nunes, saying, “I think the kids enjoyed the pep rally. They enjoyed it. I understand what they’re doing, but I think they’re pushing him too hard.”
However, parents like Atteberry find the stunt bizarre.
“What’s strange is strange to me,” Atteberry said Your Central Valley‘Ultimately, I would feel extremely guilty if something came out in five years and I could have said something about it.’
Students appeared amused as the mascot touched Nunes’ face as music blared
Set to the soundtrack of Ginuwine’s “Pony,” Nunes shoots confetti at the mascot before switching places. Nunes then spins and dances across the mascot’s chest
Nunes, right, has now been demoted to assistant principal of the school after being placed on administrative leave
He says the students were responsible for the stunt.
“They said the students put it together, but the fact that there were no warning signs is probably a warning sign,” he said.
The director describes himself on social media as “El Capitan AP Student Support, Dad, Daddy for 4+2000, people won’t remember what you said for long, but they will remember forever how you made them feel.”
“I don’t think it’s right that such a big investigation is being done into him,” an anonymous parent added during the meeting.
“I think the kids liked the pep rally. They liked it. I understand what they’re doing, but I think they’re pushing it too hard.”
“The lap dance and confetti pop are extremely inappropriate behavior around a principal’s children and especially in a school. Principals need to be held to a higher standard. Schools need to be a safe place,” another posted on social media.
“My children have seen worse things in movies or on the internet, but this behavior should not be happening in schools.”