One would think that by now people would know not to post racist stuff to the internet because of the sheer number of people who have been called out and had their lives ruined because of their social media posts.
But that didn't stop two Georgia teenagers from calling Black people the n-word in a now-infamous TikTok video that drew widespread outrage and scorn from the internet, Newsweek reported.
Carrollton High School students Stephanie Freeman and Jeffery Hume thought they could get famous by shooting, editing and posting a lengthy racist video about Black people to the popular social media app on Thursday.
Stephanie Freeman and Jeffrey Hume, seniors at Carrollton High School
Thought their future employers and colleges should see this while considering their applications..
THIS IS DISGUSTING!pic.twitter.com/zYF3DpKjnR
— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) April 17, 2020
The video is part of a popular cooking challenge where teenagers show themselves creating something by pouring different cups of water into a sink. Freeman and Hume centered their video on creating a Black person while using the n-word.
"Today we're making n****rs," they said at the start of the video.
They proceeded to use cups of water labeled "don't have a dad," "Black," "eating watermelon and fried chicken," as well as "rob people" to create their concoction. At one point in the video, they pan to a cup labeled "make good choices" which was left empty.
Their plan to go viral backfired when the video was posted to Twitter where dozens of Black people went to work in figuring out who they were. People immediately began demanding the students be educated on their actions and expelled from school, according to Heavy.
The teenagers were subsequently expelled from their high school, and Hume was kicked off the Victory Championship Wrestling team.
Effective immediately, Jay Hunter (Jeffery Hume) has been released by VCW and will no longer appear on our programming…
Posted by Victory Championship Wrestling on Friday, April 17, 2020
The deluge of complaints about the racist video forced Carrollton High School to release a lengthy statement in which administrators condemned the video and announced the students' expulsion.
Dr. Mark Albertus, the school superintendent, said: "the students’ behavior was unacceptable and is not representative of the district’s respect for all people."
“This incident does not reflect the culture of Carrollton City Schools,” said Albertus. “We are very proud of our diversity and so is our entire community. We don’t need to lose sight of this important attribute because of the actions of a few. The racist behavior observed in the video easily violates this standard. They are no longer students at Carrollton High School," Albertus said.
“It is our priority to keep our schools safe, and there is no doubt this incident has caused significant tension at Carrollton High School, across the district, state and nation – even the world," Carrollton High Principal David Brooks said.
Freeman had previously written on her social media profile that she had been admitted to the University of West Georgia, but in emails posted online, the school said it had "no record of anyone by this name admitted to the institution."
for anyone that was concerned about Stephanie Freeman attending UWG, I emailed the admissions office and they stated that no one by that name has been admitted to UWG. pic.twitter.com/ttvFQ9x1le
— kenn ???? (@oitsken) April 17, 2020
People created a campaign to determine where Freeman was enrolled in college and contacted the University of West Georgia's social media accounts.
The university told Heavy that there wasn't a record of Freeman being admitted to the school.
When the ramifications of her actions became very clear, Freeman took to Instagram to defend herself, at first saying it was not a big deal and then claiming the video was all Hume's idea.
"'Black' people ruined my life. They can't function in a society so they took my future. They're mad me and my boyfriend proved a point. All they know how to do is act ghetto and racist and low class. WHITE POWER. I DO NOT CARE ANYMORE," she first wrote after the video circulated online.
Lol it’s crazy how #Stephaniefreeman has changed her tone so fast. Take this as a PSA to all racist white people, (if you’re not racist does not apply to you), just because 45 is in the office doesn’t mean he can help you, we have no problem ruining your life. pic.twitter.com/ADyNsdQU6t
— Wilkenson Chery (@WilkyBeKing) April 18, 2020
After being expelled, she softened her tone a bit, but the racism still jumped out.
"I want to apologize for the abhorrent video I posted. I know in my heart how wrong it was. My BF is racist and he slowly normalized his racism on me. Still I should never have let him. I believe Blacks are human too, made in the image of Christ. I have disappointed God and I want to apologize. Please don't contact my college. It's my future and one mistake should not ruin a life," she wrote in an Instagram post.
While Hume immediately switched his profile to private and has yet to speak on the situation, Freeman spent the weekend deleting posts defending her actions and criticizing those who called her out for the video.
Needless to say, Twitter felt little sympathy for her.
Stephanie Freeman and Kyle Larson: my life shouldnt be ruined because of 1 mistake
Black people that had their life ruined because of 1 mistake: pic.twitter.com/56nqZRvXMq
— LJ (@beardedmilkdud6) April 19, 2020
Seeing that white girl Stephanie Freeman and her boyfriend get dragged for their racist tik tok video pic.twitter.com/AUYRKHwR1c
— Yulian Provoke (@ChazSzn) April 19, 2020
#StephanieFreeman: “I’m sorry ….. you guys ruined my fcking life.. I am no longer going to my dream college and my boyfriend and I now have no future.” #BlackTwitter: pic.twitter.com/fTV5HSj49j
— Michael Thee Stallion (@MichaelHJordan) April 19, 2020
Black folks pulling up to Stephanie Freeman, Jeffrey Hume and Jackson McMillan's houses like pic.twitter.com/ow3HwLN44R
— $cotty €ssential???????????? (@Scotty_Jo_Yung) April 18, 2020
#Stephaniefreeman :
“Blacks are human too”
“Please don’t contact my college”
“I can’t go to my dream school now” “I’m sorry black lives matter”
“My life is fucking ruined thanks to you guys”
Me: pic.twitter.com/Jxhu6fP9xS— Shae Littel???? (@6lackMamba_) April 19, 2020
While the two teens continue to be slammed for their actions, Freeman turned to social media to share her thoughts saying, "F**k my life."
In a statement to Distractify, TikTok said the site is "committed to promoting a safe and positive app environment for our community…we do not permit hate speech.
"The behavior in question is a violation of our guidelines, and we remove any such reported content," the statement read.