Florida principal suspended over Fetty Wap rap lyric yearbook quote as parents complain

A Florida principal was suspended after a Fetty Wap lyric appeared under her name in the school’s yearbook — despite her insistence that she never wrote it.Katie O’Connell, principal of Trout Creek Academy in St.Johns County, was placed on paid administrative leave May 20 while the district investigates allegations of “inappropriate conduct” tied to a quote printed on the first page of the school’s 2025-26 yearbook.“Everybody hatin’, we just call them fans though! — Mrs.

O’Connell,” the quote read.The line comes from rapper Fetty Wap’s 2015 hit “Trap Queen,” a song that includes references to drug dealing and strip clubs.The investigation began when a parent complained to Superintendent Dr.Brennan Asplen and called the quote “inappropriate and unprofessional” for a K-8 school leader, Jacksonville outlet News4JAX reported.“A principal represents leadership, maturity, and professionalism,” the parent wrote.

“Referring to criticism or concerned parents as ‘haters’ in a school publication sends the wrong message to children and families.”But emails and interviews included in the district’s investigation suggest O’Connell may not have known the quote was included.The school’s yearbook teacher said O’Connell reviewed the yearbook before publication and that the quote was not present in the final proof she saw.“Katherine O’Connell was not aware that quote was going to be used in the 2025-2026 school yearbook,” the teacher wrote.“Ms.

O’Connell wasn’t aware that quote was used until the yearbooks arrived.”When questioned by investigators, the teacher said, “The quote may not have been there.When Ms.

O’Connell reviewed it with me, she mentioned her quote was not there.I mentioned it to the students who must have then put it in.”Assistant Principal Samantha Sawruk also defended O’Connell, writing that administrators helped proofread the yearbook before submission and that the quote did not appear on...