A lecturer at the University of Georgia has been taken off campus duties after a video shared on social media accused him of inappropriate online contact with someone believed to be a minor.
University officials confirmed the move after the footage began circulating widely online. In a statement to 11Alive, the university described the claims shown in the video as “deeply disturbing” and said the case has been referred to law enforcement.
The school said its police department is gathering information and has contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Officials are also seeking materials from those who posted the video.
“The allegations concerning this instructor are deeply disturbing, and the matter has been referred to law enforcement. The instructor has been removed from campus while the investigation is conducted,” the university said.
The video, posted on TikTok, shows a group confronting the lecturer inside a classroom. Members of the group displayed printed screenshots they said were messages between the lecturer and a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.
The group identified itself as Street Sweeperz. A social media personality known as Hood Anchor Ye filmed the encounter and shared it online. In the recording, the man identified as the lecturer is heard saying, “I made a mistake,” and later adds, “I got carried away by the conversation.”
The class was dismissed shortly after the confrontation. By the end of the day, the footage had spread widely across social media.
University officials said the lecturer has not been formally charged with a crime. His name has not been released.
In a message sent to students and staff, the university said it became aware of the incident shortly before noon on Tuesday, when campus police were alerted that social media influencers had entered a class and accused the instructor of inappropriate texting with a minor.
Another lecturer has been assigned to take over the course for the rest of the semester.