FRANKLIN, TN (WZTV/CNN) - A Tennessee high school student who feared she would be exposed wearing a wig says she is no longer “defined by it” following a bullying incident caught on video that school officials are investigating.
Lulu Williams, a 16-year-old at Franklin High School, wore a wig to hide patches of missing hair caused by eczema and psoriasis her mother, Myckelle Williams, says she has had since birth.
“I’ve never told anyone because I was embarrassed by it and I felt like I’m not as beautiful as all these other girls because my hair is like this,” Lulu said.
Her mother said having her wig ripped off was a constant concern.
“She’s like, ‘What if someone took my wig off? She’s like so scared about it all the time. It was like the main thing she always thought of.”
On Friday, those fears came to pass, when a student was recorded swiping Lulu’s wig to the ground and running away, with a resulting Snapchat video captioned, “weave snatchin'.”
“I immediately held my head and ran to the bathroom,” Lulu said. “… I ran to the stall and could hear people laughing like seeing them videotaping.”
Myckelle said Lulu suffered scalp abrasions and whiplash.
“Her head was hurting. Her neck was hurting. Her scalp was hurting, and she was just crying.
"The goal is when you send your kids to school, you're automatically assuming they're going to be safe and protected. And I'm feeling like she's not protected."
A spokeswoman for Williamson County Schools said bullying is not tolerated and that in addition to school discipline, WSC prosecutes delinquent behavior to the fullest extent of the law.
Myckelle Williams, though, said she was, “hurt by the actions of Williamson County.”
“I feel like there are a lot of parents who are hurt by their action. I feel like there are a lot of kids being victimized and it's not being handled correctly."
Myckelle said she would be pressing charges.
Meanwhile Lulu, a piano player, says she has received countless messages from other girls dealing with similar things, including one that read, “I have so much respect for you and I think that you are so brave for doing what you did.”
And she shaved her head.
“Now ever since I did it I feel free and I'm not held down by my hair, or I'm not defined by it.
“I'm defining myself."
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