A FATHER has fired back at critics after he received threats over a viral video of a high school principal giving and receiving a lap dance at a rally.

Ryan Attebery shared footage from a back-to-school rally at Buhach Colony High School in California’s Central Valley, sparking a discussion about whether the principal acted inappropriately.

Ryan Attebery spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun about backlash and threats he received for sharing a video of a principal giving and receiving a lap dance at a school rallyCredit: Instagram/Ryan Attebery

Principal Robert Nunes has been placed on leave as the district investigates the situationCredit: Atwater High School

Attebery, a dad-of-three, wrote on top of the clip, “Am I a square that’s getting old or was this weird?”

In the footage from August 16, the school’s Viking mascot Thor took off principal Robert Nunes’ hat and threw it away – before twerking in front of him.

The school leader had his shirt half-buttoned, exposing his stomach, and leaned back in an office chair.

He then popped a gold confetti cannon from the side of his hip toward the mascot before switching places, pretending to push Thor onto the chair to return the favor.

Nunes was placed on leave on August 19 as the school district investigated the incident.

‘WAY WORSE’

Attebery said he and his family received backlash from members of the local community for sharing the video, with many rushing to defend Nunes’ performance at the Las Vegas-themed event.

“A lot of people put words in my mouth or threatened my kid but the reality is, the video speaks for itself,” Attebery said.

“As far as the man, my stance is the same. Who knows, maybe it’s just a bad moment, but I’d rather find out for sure if he’s a good or bad guy and I don’t care how that makes me look.”

“The fact everyone was blaming me or parents like me is mind-boggling, to say the least,” he continued.

The disgusted father said the backlash was undeserving and insisted an email sent by the school “was their demise” – not him sharing the video.

“My video isn’t the one that caught their attention,” he said.

“I was just the one with the best video. The email they sent out was their demise.”

“MUHSD placed Mr Robert Nunes, Principal of Buhach Colony High School, on administrative leave effective Monday, August 19, 2024, due to an incident on Friday, August 16,” the email to parents shown to The U.S. Sun stated.

“This decision comes as part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all students and staff.”

In a slowed-down version of the clip shown by Attebery, some youngsters can be seen looking on shocked with hands over their mouths.

The slow version “is way worse than I originally anticipated,” Attebery said – which reiterated his belief that he did the right thing.

I had a teacher from California who said ‘If he crossed those lines at a rally, what lines do you think he crosses at the office?'”

Ryan AtteberyParent

“I did it for all the little girls in the crowd, their parents, the boys who felt weird,” he said.

“The reality is he did it himself. That was uncalled for to begin with.

“I had a teacher from California who said ‘If he crossed those lines at a rally, what lines do you think he crosses at the office?’ and that stuck with me.

“I’m OK with being the bad guy and finding out [the truth].”

Students from the school his son and two daughters attend have contacted him privately on social media to thank him for showing the video, he said.

‘OPEN SEASON’

As well as using the video to find out more about the intent behind the principal’s actions and to address concerns about student and staff safety, Attebery also had another motive.

“I think it set a bad example. If that’s allowed by the faculty then what are the kids going to assume and or try to get away with?” he said.

“I was a wild and reckless teenager. Kids like me would see that and think, it’s open season imma do whatever I want.

“It shows 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual themes and activities are fine at school. Reality is, it’s not and these are kids.”

In response to parents who said teens see worse on their phones, Attebery fired back, “They shouldn’t see anything of that nature happening at school, especially from the principal.

As the Merced Union High School District continues to investigate, Attebery claimed there’s a dark culture at the school.

“The more I’ve learned about the school and past events, the less I want him to go there,” he said of his son’s attendance at Buhach.

In a photo circulated on a local community Facebook page, a shirtless student could be seen running around the sports hall with his chest painted in the American flag while wearing nothing but a pair of tight swim trunks.

The individual who shared the image claimed it was under the leadership of a different principal who “thought it was OK to have an underage student dance around in basically nothing in front of 14 to 17-year-olds.”

The furious parent called for the school board to be investigated, telling it to “do better” while asking other parents, “Would you be OK with your 14-year-old daughter coming to school for this?”

Meanwhile, Attebery’s son, who is an athlete, is set to leave Buhach for elsewhere, though his father says he had “no issues or problems at school since the [mascot] incident.”

The U.S. Sun contacted Nunes and the Merced Union School District for comment.

The disgusted father claims that the skit ‘sets the wrong example’ and may give students a reason to think they have a free pass to do what they likeCredit: Instagram/Ryan Attebery

The school has suspended the principal pending an investigation into what happenedCredit: Instagram/Ryan Attebery