WASHINGTON, D.C. (NBC) – A profanity-laced social media post landed a Pennsylvania teen in hot water and, eventually, the case of student free speech was brought before the Supreme Court.
Brandi Levy said she was upset after being booted from varsity cheerleader to junior varsity when she posted a Snapchat story which included several f-bombs and her middle finger.
Word got back to Mahanoy Area High School administrators and the cheerleading coach, who kicked Brandi off the cheer squad entirely.
The school district upheld the decision and Levy filed a lawsuit.
The story ignited a firestorm over what qualifies as free speech for public school students and how much control schools have over it.