Jaelyn Crooks is a name that is making frequent rounds on the internet. However, she might be less known. Therefore, we must inform you that she is an American national who made a name for herself through her viral video. As far as her profession is concerned, we know that she is a student.
Before proceeding further we must know that she went viral for a reason which cannot be counted among positive ones. Her racial comments about a particular section made her infamous. Therefore, if you wish to know more about her, then you should go through this article in detail.
Jaelyn Crooks Early Life
Before proceeding further to know about her viral video, it seems proper to know some details about her life. Here you must know that she breathed her first in Minnesota, USA.
However, we do not know about the date of her birth. Moreover, we must tell you that her mother’s name is Jodie Crooks, while the name of her father remains unknown to us. Yet we know that she belongs to a mixed ethnicity.
As far as her educational details are concerned, we must tell you here that she attended Prior Lake High School. In fact, she still is a student in that school and is in her late teens. She stays with her parents at present in Minnesota.
The Viral Video
Here comes the part which you all must have been waiting for. Let me tell you that in November 2021, a video was posted by a fellow student named Shaun King, featuring Jaelyn and Jayden Kewley.
In this video, the two individuals were found making racist comments, issuing threats, and even encouraging another student to harm herself. The content of the video was not only offensive but also filled with hate and cruelty.
The targeted individual of these racist remarks was 14-year-old Nya Sigin. In fact, she is a freshman attending Prior Lake. Nya, an African-American student, initially learned of the video when a classmate shared it with her.
At first, she did not realize that the derogatory content was directed at her. However, during a counselling session, she came to the distressing realization that the hurtful sentiments in the video were, in fact, directed personally at her.
Reaction to The Video
Here you might be interested to learn that Nya’s sister, Elizabeth Sigin, a senior at the same school, burst out in outrage upon seeing the video. The threats and offensive language deeply disturbed her, and she revealed that her sister had been a target of bullying by Jaelyn and Jayden. Elizabeth went on to explain that this incident had a profoundly negative impact on her family due to the ongoing harassment her sister was enduring.
Here you must know that Nya had already been grappling with anxiety and depression. In fact, she had previously attempted suicide in the middle of 2021. She had been making significant progress in her journey toward recovery, but the racist video caused her to experience a relapse in her mental health.
The online community rallied behind Nya following the incident, offering tremendous support. A GoFundMe account created to assist with her college expenses successfully raised over $38,000.
Effect on Crooks
The principal of Prior Lakes expressed deep concern over the students’ behaviour and took swift action by sending a letter to the parents. In that letter, the principal affirmed the school’s stance against racism and hate speech.
She reassured the parents that Jayden and Jaelyn would face severe consequences for their actions. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), to which Jaelyn belongs, also issued a statement unequivocally condemning any form of racism.
Moreover, the local law enforcement authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter. However, there is a growing chorus of voices calling for the expulsion of the students. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, with Jaelyn as a member, has also made it clear that they do not tolerate racism in any way.
Unfortunately, reports have emerged that the Crooks family, Jaelyn’s relatives, have been subjected to death threats and harassment in their hometown. In response, the police have stationed officers to provide security for their safety. Additionally, students from Prior Lake have been participating in peaceful protests since the incident occurred.
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