Debates on Twitter have kick-started after risqué graduation photos were posted online by a University of Arizona student, Rachel Davenport.
Like many of her peers, Davenport scheduled a graduation photo shoot on campus, but hers featured a stripper pole, clear stilettos and a red thong. Last year, a FAMU student named Terica Williams was under fire for posting a similar shot to Davenport’s. Instead, Williams’ graduation photo shoot involved posing in a nude body suit which made her appear nude.
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Y’all do her how y’all did me. https://t.co/QaCBF2emPO
— IG: TericaStar 🔭 (@TericaStar) May 22, 2023
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The online scrutiny followed behind what many felt was a valid statement from Williams. The FAMU Alum tweeted that she expected Davenport to receive the same punishment and academic threats she had gone through the year before.
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like this 💁🏻♀️ https://t.co/KJrLTpYtod pic.twitter.com/FlcjDgMRme
— rach 🦎 (@humanglowstick1) May 19, 2023
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“Y’all do her how y’all did me,” Williams tweeted.” Yall told me to die and sent death threats daily,” she added.
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Y’all told me to die.
— IG: TericaStar 🔭 (@TericaStar) May 22, 2023
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“I wonder if the school didn’t let her walk at graduation like they did ole’ girl from FAMU,” one tweet reads.
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I wonder if the school didn’t let her walk at graduation like they did ole girl from FAMU
— Rich Eagle vs Poverty Falcon (@neon_gumbo) May 20, 2023
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Ms. Venom if your nasty 🐍 #famugrad #gradphotos pic.twitter.com/1pHqBlYMMM
— IG: TericaStar 🔭 (@TericaStar) July 30, 2022
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When Williams’ photos went viral online, many said she devalued HBCUs with her provocative shoot. Others reached out to FAMU requesting the school denied her graduating and walking at commencement. With her future in psychology at risk at the time, Williams and her family had to seek legal representation to fight the possibility of her losing her degree.
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Y’all sent me death threats daily.
— IG: TericaStar 🔭 (@TericaStar) May 22, 2023
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Davenport’s second graduation photo shows her posing on the stripper pole wearing clear stilettos, a white mini-dress and a pink sash under her cap and gown. When faced with opinionated tweets, Davenport noted the difference between hers and William’s shoots was nudity.
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I also got a similar comment on my insta and yes I did walk- but you also can’t really compare the situations other than we both look good? I’m in a swimsuit and the FAMU girl was naked… what matters is we both educated and fine as hell 💋
— rach 🦎 (@humanglowstick1) May 20, 2023
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“I also got a similar comment on my install and yes, I did walk- but you also can’t really compare the situations other than we both look good? I’m in a swimsuit and the FAMU girl is naked….what matters is we’re both educated and fine as hell,” Davenport responded.
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My name is Terica baby not the FAMU girl. And we all know the reason people was mad at me and not you. https://t.co/1VKz080bBv
— IG: TericaStar 🔭 (@TericaStar) May 22, 2023
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“My name is Terica baby, not the FAMU girl. And we all know the reason people were mad at me and not you,” Williams wrote in response to Davenport.
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Not you thinking yours is not as bad when you’re literally bussing it open on a pole????
— libra baby (@myazsa1) May 21, 2023
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Many supporters defended Williams calling Davenport’s tweet a lack of “cognitive dissonance,” and “white privilege.”
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“Not you thinking yours is not as bad when you’re literally bussing it open on a pole??,” another user tweeted at Davenport.
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like what you see? Don’t be shy, empty your wallet ☺️☺️ pic.twitter.com/rhYGYUZvY7
— rach 🦎 (@humanglowstick1) May 21, 2023
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Davenport has even linked her Cash App QR Codes for followers to send funds for her graduate photos. What do you think about this incident — is it fair, or does U of A need to step in as FAMU did with Williams?
