A principal in Atwater, California, has been placed on leave after a parent shared a video of him dancing with a school mascot during a rally, raising concerns about whether the behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional.

The video from last week’s back-to-school event at Buhach Colony High School shows Principal Robert Nunes running his hands down the mascot’s chest while it sat in a chair. The rally appeared to have a Las Vegas theme, with playing card decorations on the walls and someone saying, “What happens at Buhach stays at Buhach.”

In response, the Merced Union High School District announced Monday that Nunes has been placed on administrative leave while they conduct a thorough review of the incident. During the investigation, Nunes will not participate in any school-related activities.

Ryan Attebery, who saw the video on his son’s Instagram and reposted it to Facebook on Saturday, captioned it: “Am I a square or was this weird af for a principal to do?”

The post sparked mixed reactions, with some community members defending Nunes, while others questioned whether the actions were appropriate for an educator. Attebery expressed that he found certain aspects of the video concerning, though he acknowledged that others might not share his view.

The video has since generated ongoing debate on Attebery’s Facebook page about whether the principal’s behavior was acceptable. Some commenters defended Nunes, describing him as a beloved figure in the local community. One individual, identified as Justin Rogers, urged Attebery to stop suggesting that Nunes had negative intentions, emphasizing the principal’s positive reputation among students, teachers, and colleagues.

One commenter suggested that a private conversation with Nunes might have been more effective, and Attebery later agreed, admitting that he could have handled the situation differently. He acknowledged his mistake and noted that he learned a lesson from the experience.