“You Look Like a Monkey”: Mom Outraged After Teacher’s ‘Offensive’ Birthday Song to 6-Year-Old

What Was Supposed to Be a Celebration Turned Into an Outrage

A mother in Florida is demanding answers after her six-year-old son became the target of what she describes as racial humiliation in front of his classmates.

The incident happened on 29 September at Florida’s Floral Avenue Elementary School in Bartow, Polk County.

According to Desarae Prather, her son’s teacher sang a so-called “funny version” of the Happy Birthday song — one that included the lyrics:

“Happy birthday to you. You live in the zoo. You look like a monkey, and you smell like one, too.”

The moment, captured in a video that the teacher herself sent to Prather, shows her singing to the boy as classmates laugh. The teacher giggles after finishing, adding, “Whoo, give him a clap, everybody.”

The boy appears visibly uncomfortable during the song.

The Song That Sparked a Storm

Prather said she had never heard that version before and couldn’t believe a teacher would use it in a classroom setting.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she told a news outlet. “It’s nothing funny.”

The mother said she was outraged and hurt after watching the clip.

“‘You look like a monkey. You live in a zoo, and you smell like one, too.’ I don’t approve of that, and that’s you humiliating him in front of his peers,” Prather said. “No child should have to go to school and feel like they can’t confide in an authority figure without them calling them racial slurs.”

Prather filed a complaint with the school, but was told the matter would be referred to Polk County Public Schools (PCPS).

District Responds, But Mother Left Waiting

The school district later released a statement acknowledging the viral video:

“PCPS has been made aware of a video of a teacher singing to an elementary school student and his classmates. This is now being reviewed by district staff and our HR department… we expect our employees to always keep that in mind as they interact with others.”

By 1 October, Prather said she had still not received any follow-up from the district.

“My Son Is Traumatized”

The mother said her son has been so affected by the episode that he refused to go to school.

“My son can’t — he’s not even in school right now, because he feels as if people are going to call him a monkey, and his feelings are hurt,” she said. “Now I have to seek counseling for him because he was crying… I shouldn’t have to wake up every day to see that my son feels this way.”

Her posts quickly went viral on Instagram and TikTok, drawing attention from high-profile figures including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, comedian D.L. Hughley, and rapper Diamond ATL.

The Racial Weight Behind the Word

Prather emphasized that the term “monkey” has long been used to demean and dehumanize Black people, especially in historical contexts of slavery and systemic racism.

“To know where we come from, and our ancestors and for us to be labeled like that, because when they call us, ‘Monkey,’ they’re saying we’re ugly; we act like monkeys. Those are remarks I don’t like at all,” she told 10 Tampa Bay News.

Prather added that the classroom being mostly white only deepened her son’s “trauma and humiliation.”

Viewers Divided Over Intent and Impact

The viral clip sparked a heated debate online.

Others defended the teacher, calling it an old childhood song.

Another commented,

Some argued that the mother has gone too far, while others insisted that context and power dynamics matter — especially in a classroom.

Meanwhile, the unnamed teacher has reportedly received death threats and remains employed at the school as investigations continue.

“I Don’t Play Games About My Child”

Prather says she wants a public apology and disciplinary action.

“I feel like she should own up to her actions,” she said. “I feel like she should write an apology to my son and my family, because it was unacceptable, and my son is going to be traumatized for life.”

For now, Prather’s son has been transferred to another class, but she is considering moving him to a different school altogether.

“I don’t play games about my child,” she said.

The Polk County Public School’s investigation is ongoing.

Watch the video here:

@cbsmiami

A Florida mother is demanding action after her 6-year-old son’s teacher at Floral Avenue Elementary in Polk County sang an altered version of the “Happy Birthday” song to him with the lyrics “You live in the zoo, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one too.” The mother, who was sent the video by the teacher, said the rendition was offensive and racist, adding her child’s feelings were hurt. She has called on the school for an apology, disciplinary measures and counseling support for her son, saying she intends to transfer him elsewhere. Polk County Public Schools confirmed they are investigating the incident.

♬ original sound – CBS Miami