A principal at a K-12 school in Florida has been suspended after lyrics from a Fetty Wap song were found in a yearbook, although she claims she had no part in it.
Katie O’Connell, who leads Trout Creek Academy in St. Johns County, is currently on administrative leave as the school district looks into the situation. The lyrics, which reference themes related to drugs and strippers, appeared on the first page of the 2025-2026 yearbook, raising concerns among parents, as noted by the New York Post.
The district is examining claims of “inappropriate conduct” following these complaints. One line, “We all hate them, but we just call them fans!”—attributed to Mrs. O’Connell—was pulled from Fetty Wap’s 2015 song “Trap Queen.”
Parents expressed their dissatisfaction to Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen, labeling the citation as “inappropriate and unprofessional.” They emphasized that school leadership should model maturity and professionalism, stating that referring to parents as “haters” sends the wrong message.
However, it seems O’Connell may not have known the lyrics would make it into the yearbook. Internal communications revealed that the yearbook teacher indicated the principal had reviewed the yearbook prior to release and that the version she saw didn’t contain those lyrics.
The teacher noted, “Ms. Catherine O’Connell had no idea that the quote would be used in the 2025-2026 school yearbook,” adding that it might have been added later without O’Connell’s awareness.
Principal Samantha Sauluk also mentioned that the quote was not present during the proofreading process on April 9. She observed that O’Connell typically signed her correspondence as “Mrs. O” instead of “Mrs. O’Connell,” which was how the yearbook cited her.
O’Connell reiterated that she did not approve the inclusion of the lyrics. She stated, “I approved the yearbook twice on April 9, and the vice principal also approved it, but that citation wasn’t in the book.”
Moreover, she expressed feeling frustrated that concerned parents didn’t reach out directly to her before escalating the situation. “All I needed was time or an opportunity to correct a mistake,” she stated, emphasizing it wasn’t her fault.
The school district has placed her on leave and restricted her access to school grounds, indicating a likelihood of not reappointing her for the next academic year.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Fetty Wap’s team has reached out to support O’Connell after this incident came to light. A spokesperson from Fetty Wap expressed how they wanted to send flowers to her, and they were arranged through a local florist.
O’Connell’s lawyer conveyed her gratitude in light of the support she’s received: “As far as Fetty Wap reaching out and supporting us…thank you.”
