Massachusetts High School junior prom ends early due to students yelling racial slur while song was playing

Organizers shut a Wenham high school junior prom down early last Saturday after multiple students were heard yelling the “N-word” during a song, school officials said.”

Superintendent Eric Tracy told Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School families that the school’s junior prom ended early on April 28 because multiple students were heard yelling the racial slur.

“While the music was playing and students were dancing, one or more students yelled the N-word,” Tracy wrote in an email. “This racial slur was heard by a number of our students and was very upsetting to them.”

WCVB said “Caroline” by the artist Aminé was the song playing at the time of the incident.

The superintendent said the high school’s principal, Bryan Menegoni, made the decision to end the prom early and address all of the students directly.

School officials opened an investigation immediately after the incident, police have also been called into the investigation.

The superintendent said detractors put the blame on whoever decided to play the song.

“All music played at the prom was radio appropriate as it is a standard of the DJ before being hired,” Tracey wrote in his email.

WCVB reported that a clean and appropriate version of the “Caroline” song was played at the school dance.

The unedited version of the song contains several profanities as well as the racial slur that was heard shouted at the prom.

“Racist incidents like this will not be tolerated in our schools or at school events,” Tracy said. “Our schools and school events must always be safe spaces for our students. We will continue to work together to make that a reality.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.