High school grad says she was denied diploma because she did popular ‘Griddy’ dance

A Philadelphia highschool graduate mentioned she was denied her diploma on stage after she did the favored “Griddy” dance as she walked. Hafsah Abdul-Rahman mentioned college authorities had informed them that households or associates mustn’t cheer, clap or shout whereas college students walked throughout the stage to obtain their diplomas so she warned her household towards these. 

However Abdul-Rahman ended up dancing throughout the stage on the Kimmel Middle when her title was referred to as throughout final Friday’s commencement ceremony for the Philadelphia Excessive Faculty for Women. In a video, she is seen doing the “Griddy” dance whereas strolling throughout the stage to obtain her diploma from the college’s principal.

The 17-year-old later defined that she couldn’t cease herself from dancing as a result of she was so excited to be graduating after 4 robust years that included a pandemic. However her dance produced some laughter from the gang so the principal denied her the diploma. “She was like, ‘You’re not getting your diploma since you made the gang chuckle,’” Abdul-Rahman informed NBC10. “It was like she was going to offer it to me however she took it proper again. It was simply embarrassing. She didn’t have to do this.”

Regardless that Abdul-Rahman lastly acquired her diploma off-stage following the ceremony, she feels it was unfair to be punished for her dance. “I didn’t really feel like I broke any of the principles as a result of she didn’t say this previous to the commencement which you can’t do that strolling throughout the stage,” Abdul-Rahman mentioned. “She simply mentioned our households can not cheer for us. And my household didn’t cheer.” 

The Philly teen mentioned she was additionally damage as a result of she needed to dedicate the ceremony to her sister who was killed by a stray bullet in 2014 at age 15. “I devoted this to her as a result of she was by no means capable of graduate. You took that second that I’ll by no means have the ability to get again once more,” Abdul-Rahman was quoted by Fox 29. The outlet reported that three different college students had been denied their diplomas on stage because of comparable actions.

In a press release, the Philadelphia Faculty District mentioned it “doesn’t condone the withholding of earned diplomas primarily based on relations cheering for his or her graduates.” 

“We apologize to all of the households and graduates who had been impacted and are additional wanting into this matter to keep away from it taking place sooner or later,” the district added.