A sexually suggestive promotional video featuring women twerking in thongs at West Side High School in Newark has drawn ire from members of the Newark Board of Education. The video, filmed to promote a celebrity basketball tournament called “Nuttin’ But Azz,” showcases women dancing in slow motion to hip-hop music, with the school’s mascot “Rough Riders,” visible in the background.
Produced by Big Fendi, a well-known music manager, the explicit nature of the video has ignited fury among the board members, with some deeming it “appalling” and “disgusting.” During a recent meeting, board member Daniel Gonzalez expressed his dismay, while Board Co-Vice President Allison James-Frison voiced her strong disapproval.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the potentially inappropriate content being viewed by students, prompting demands for an investigation into how the film crew gained access to the school premises.
Following the video’s circulation on social media, the “NBA Baddies Basketball Tournament NJ,” scheduled to be held at the high school in July, has been canceled, provoking shock and frustration among parents.
The “Nuttin But Azz” basketball tournament has been canceled, per @NYDailyNews [2] & @TMZ_Sports [3]
“The ‘Nuttin But Azz’ Celebrity Baddies Basketball contest was all set to go forward on July 21 at West Side High School in Newark … but after a video promoting the event featured… pic.twitter.com/2EZcEw5gcc [4]
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 20, 2024 [5]
Taking responsibility for the controversy, Big Fendi issued a public apology via an Instagram video, acknowledging that unforeseen wardrobe choices made by the performers had led to the unexpected uproar.
View this post on Instagram
Superintendent Roger León clarified that the video did not align with any district or school events and assured the community that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken in response to the incident.