A Black science teacher who uses TikTok to show his interactions with his students in class was fired after a video went viral of his female students unbraiding his hair.
The teacher, who goes by JaQ Lee on TikTok, has been the talk of social media this week after he recorded a full video of the female students unbraiding his hair after he said that he had an appointment after school. During the video, he explains why he had the students unbraid his hair instead of doing it himself.
“I didn’t have time to do it all by myself because it would’ve taken me forever, so naturally I asked about four or five of over 100 best friends to assist me in taking my hair out, and they all agreed,” Lee said.
“If I was a female teacher, those people wouldn’t be in the comments saying ‘Oh this is weird, this is inappropriate.’ Me personally, I don’t think there’s anything weird about this. People are saying it’s too intimate. To me, it’s literally just hair. It doesn’t have to be weird. Some people have never had cool teachers and it shows.”
Black parents tap in! Would you be okay with your daughter unbraiding her teacher’s hair? Is this appropriate? pic.twitter.com/1VaoMU82EP
— Sincerely Nelle (@TanelleIrene) May 8, 2024
I can see why they fired JaQ Lee they are so many videos that as a teacher he shouldn't have been posting…. Probably went against the policy.Idk what y'all think? Do you think them taking his hair down is okay even when posting content like this? pic.twitter.com/ZYPSffW6Tb
— Shalena Ward (@ShalenaCWard) May 10, 2024
Lee received support and some criticism in the comments of the video, and people also discussed the situation on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I see nothing wrong. Some of them may not have a father figure or big brother at home, so keep it up. Be there for them,” one user said.
“This is 1000 percent inappropriate, male or female it doesn’t matter. You are a professional, this is a profession and this is not professional behavior,” another user said.
On May 10, Lee made video on TikTok reading letters that students and others wrote him, telling them that they’ll miss him, alluding to the notion that he was fired. Lee cried throughout the video.
this hurts my heart so bad this man needs his job back asap !!! Jaq lee if you’re seeing this stay strong it’s teachers like you who made me who i am today 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/d237kylBJH
— Nijaaa (@just4funbaee) May 11, 2024
