Video footage from New Jersey shows a high school math teacher having a meltdown after seeing students hanging out at a local park, telling them she hopes they die a “long, painful death” from the coronavirus.
The video originally surfaced on social media platform Tik Tok, posted with the caption “Y’all Mrs Griggs is losing her damn mind how tf is she a teacher #coronavirus.”
New Jersey newspaper The Trentonian identified the woman in the video as Steinert High School teacher Nicole Griggs, who can be seen seen in the footage wearing grey sweatpants and apparently taking her dog on a walk.
“Should I scream it loud enough that you can hear me over your music?” the teacher yells at a group of teens throwing a football around the park. “Park’s closed! You will get arrested if the cops come. Is that crazy enough for you?”
Griggs continues to shout, “Park’s closed” before telling the youths “get it through your thick head, you are the reason we are in this situation.”
The teacher then appears to melt down after noticing one of the teens is recording her with a cellphone camera.
“You are the problem, not the solution. Go ahead, keep recording. Who are you going to show it to? Post me on social media. You’re the idiot doing the wrong thing,” Griggs screams. “I’m just trying to save your ass and save your life. But die, OK. I hope both of you get the coronavirus. I hope you both die a long, painful death.”
The last part of the video quickly went viral on social media.
Government school teacher (to students):
"I hope both of you get the coronavirus. I hope you both die a long painful death." pic.twitter.com/8nSFGYiXUP
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) April 26, 2020
One of the students present at the scene later said he was “shocked” by the teacher’s outburst, adding that she should have been “smarter with the worfs.
According to the Trentonian, Griggs has a history of wishing disease on those who don’t follow social distancing guidelines:
In an April 6 post on the Facebook page of Nikki Leigh, which Griggs appears to operate under an alias, she says: “We are surrounded by idiots!!!!!! Rode our bikes near Kuser Park this afternoon and what to [sic] we see but a younger couple with their daughter maybe 2/3 years old UNDOING the caution tape around the jungle gym so she could slide. I totally called them out on it, wished illness on them and commented that it was scary to even think they were parents. Their response: ‘We were going to put it back.’”
The Trentonian confirmed the Facebook page belongs to Griggs.
Griggs’ school district is currently investigating the incident and has stated that the issue will be addressed “immediately.”
