Although she only appeared in the new J.R., featuring Trey Songz, "Best Friend" music video for a few mere seconds, a Long Island high school assistant principal has lost her original job and been reassigned for her participation in the racy video.
It's amazing how sensitive the school system can be when it comes to popular music acts, including the rap and hip-hop spectrum. Recently, a high school in California turned down a $10,000 prize because it would be accompanied by a Macklemore performance, which they would not approve for fear of inappropriate content during the performance. The ban was later lifted, but not after strong protest and a hefty petition signed by 6,000 students, started by those who had originally won the contest.
Now, we see yet another example of popular culture clashing with institutions of education at the high school level. According to Stereogum, who reports that Esther Adler-O'Keefe, assistant principal of Long Island's Southampton High School, has sort-of lost her job due to her appearance in the below music video.
The video depicts J.R. being hired as a house-sitter while a couple is away on vacation. Adler O'Keefe, portrays the house owner, looking very "chill" we might add, and gives J.R. a kiss on the cheek and says a quick line about J.R. behaving before heading out on her trip. J.R. proceeds to throw a house party rager with chicks, booze and rather raunchy behavior. The now former principal returns to the house to discover the party's chaos, slamming a ball at J.R.'s head.
According to NBC, the school's superintendent Scott Farina released a statement stating that the district was "unhappy" with Alder-O'Keefe appearing in the rap video. She's since been reassigned to a new job where her role will reportedly involve "a variety of academic support services throughout the district."
No further clarification about what the school district was specifically unhappy with in the video with regards to O'Keefe. After all, she played the responsible adult upset over juvenile behavior and the breaking of rules. Perhaps it was the thrown ball that upset the district since dodgeball has been banned in so many schools over the last few years? Otherwise, we can only speculate that it was the idea of guilt by association where her mere presence could be mistaken as approval of the performers by some.
What do you think? Should O'Keefe have been reassigned?
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