ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Fetty Wap’s team sent flowers to Trout Creek Academy principal Katie O’Connell after she was placed on administrative leave when a lyric from the rapper’s song appeared in the school yearbook attributed to her — a line she says she never approved.
The yearbook, distributed this spring, included the line “Everybody hatin’, we just call them fans though,” attributed to O’Connell. The district has opened an investigation into allegations of “inappropriate conduct.”
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O’Connell, who has worked in the St. Johns County School District for more than 20 years, said the quote was not in the final proof she signed off on.
“That quote was not in there,” O’Connell said. “And when we were done proofreading it, we said, ‘go ahead and send it. It’s good. Like, we’re done. Like sign, seal, deliver that yearbook.’ So the fact that when they arrived at the school, that quote was in there and on the front page and attributed to Mrs. O’Connell, which would never be me.”
After the yearbook was published, O’Connell said she was sent home and told her contract would not be renewed for next year.
“I was just sent home and to say that it’s inappropriate conduct and then they released documents to the news and giving me no control over my own process, I couldn’t even speak for myself, I’ve had no hearing. It’s just been really disappointing,” O’Connell said.
Her lawyer, Jack Webb, said a student made additional edits after O’Connell’s final approval and that a page containing the lyric was added without her knowledge.
“It was distributed in an inappropriate manner prematurely,” Webb said. He said the legal team plans to seek a court order requiring the school board to hold a hearing.
The school board declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
The matter has drawn national attention, O’Connell said, and she described messages of support from the rapper as “nice.”
In addition to the flowers, supporters have contributed to a GoFundMe to help cover legal expenses; the campaign had raised more than $3,000.