In a troubling act of bullying at Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, last Friday, a student can be seen ripping off a wig from a black teenage girl’s head in a video recording. The victim, Lauren Williams, 16, has struggled with eczema and psoriasis since she was a baby.

Williams and her mom, Myckelle, told Nashville NewsChannel 5 that a student recorded a Snapchat video of a male student ripping Williams’ wig off her head. The text attached to the video read: “weave snatchin,” NewsChannel 5 reported. A teenage girl then reportedly followed Williams into the bathroom as she tried to hide in a bathroom stall.

“She followed me in there, was laughing, videotaping over the stall…” Williams explained.

Myckelle wrote a post on Facebook describing the incident last Saturday. The mom explained that she learned the bullying incident was supposedly sparked by a $5 bet between students. She said her daughter, who she nicknamed Lulu, has a scalp condition that causes hair loss and that she often wore wigs to feel beautiful.

"Yesterday I received a call from my youngest daughter screaming and crying on the phone, for me to come and get her from school," Myckelle wrote in part. "Apparently, some boys had taken a $5 bet about pulling her wig off in front of everyone. Lulu has a scalp condition that causes severe dryness and hair breakage and loss, and had been so ashamed of her appearance that she had taken to wearing wigs in an effort to still feel beautiful. We all know how easy it is to feel insecure at age 16."

Myckelle added that she took her daughter to the hospital for abrasions and whiplash after the incident. But despite the trauma the incident caused Williams, Myckelle also shared that her daughter shaved her head as a way to take control of the incident – and to feel empowered. 

Williams told Nashville Fox 17 News that since their traumatic story went public, they've been receiving countless messages of support from girls who have dealt with similar incidents. Williams said shaving her head made her feel "free." 

"Now ever since I did it I feel free, and I'm not held down by my hair or I'm not defined by it," she said. "I'm defining myself."

A Williamson County School resource officer released the following statement to Fox 17 News regarding the incident:

"The Franklin High administration and the School Resource Officer immediately began investigating the incident when it was reported to them Friday afternoon. This type of behavior can never be tolerated at school. In addition to school discipline, WCS prosecutes delinquent behavior to the fullest extent of the law."

On Monday, Williamson County School Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney shared a tweet discouraging the public to retweet or share to social media posts highlighting the incident. 

On Tuesday, Myckelle wrote a post on Facebook in response to Looney's tweet, arguing that it's important for victims to not remain silent. 

"We are going to SHARE and keep SHARING and keep SHARING until Justice is CARRIED OUT and BULLYING receives ZERO Tolerance in school systems!!!!!!" she wrote in part. 

Anti-BullyingBullyhair