A photo circulating of a Waverly, New York high school pep rally reenacting the 2009 fight between Chris Brown and Rihanna in black face has some asking how it was allowed to take place.
The photo, which was contributed to CNN's iReport by mjdishler, features three white students performing the skit Friday vying for the title of "Mr.Waverly."
The report said the students "would display acts of domestic violence as satire to an audience that included not only students but parents, faculty, and various members of the media and community leaders."
The photo was widely circulated on the social media website Facebook among students and alumni.
"The Waverly School District is committed to creating a positive atmosphere through our activities," said Joseph Yelich in a statement, according to CNN. "I will be working with our building administrators, our staff and our students to examine our current activities and develop future activities consistent with our commitment. Ultimately, our administrators are going to need to meet with the whole student body to set clear expectations for our behavior and the impact it has on all people."
The article has circulating on Facebook and the Internet, appearing some of the nation's top news sites. Users had mixed reactions to the photograph.
"I'm Black. I didn't read this article and think, "racists!" I read this article and shook my head at school admins allowing students to emulate domestic violence," said commenter rjbphd.
"Hhmmm, and here I thought racist white people were only in the South. Here's proof I was very wrong. Not only are there racists in NY, they also think domestic violence is funny. Shame on those students, shame on that school and town, shame on the people here defending this garbage," said Goldiedoll
"Poor taste? yes. Inappropriate for High School? most definitely.
Racist? That's a far stretch. They weren't purposely saying black people commit domestic violence they were portraying Chris Brown and Rihanna. They were attempting to be funny and failed.
And anyone who says Blackface is always racist.... You must not get out much because there have been numerous comedians to use blackface and whiteface to make jokes about race relations and issues. For example Dave Chappelle and Robert Downey Jr. They weren't throwing black people under the bus just failing at being funny. Portraying another race is NOT inherently racist. It can be racist sure but just because it happens does not make it racist," commented Phantom013.
A commenter, Notaracistt, identifying as a student at the school even left a comment, saying the "whole ordeal should be dropped."
"Learn from the fact that some people out there are over sensitive and will do anything for drama. Understand, that this problem will never be resolved and that it is too opionionated of a problem to dish out consequences or a round of applause to anyone. No one was offended nor hurt in this skit. Either the Waverly School STUDENTS AND STAFF need to have their own little talk about the whole issue and iron everything out, or it needs to be dropped as a whole. Nothing will be resolved on a silly blog like this one, where most outsiders have no idea what even went on."
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