Two teenagers in California have received a $1 million payout after being wrongly accused of 'blackface' and successfully proving that it was actually an acne mask.
The teens successfully proved that the substance on their faces was an acne mask and not an act of racism, leading to a significant legal victory.
The students were unexpectedly kicked out of school due to their 'blackface' photo.
The story happened at a Catholic high school in California, where both were studied.
At the time the photo was taken, they were just 14 years old.
However, several years later, the image caused significant trouble for them when it went viral in 2020 during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States. As a result, they were kicked out of school.
Fortunately, they were able to demonstrate that the substance on their faces was not blackface, but rather an acne mask they had applied in solidarity with a friend who was struggling with acne.
The picture was taken in 2017 and showed the two boys wearing a green mask for acne treatment. The mask changed color to dark green as it dried. The mask was bought by one of their mothers.
These students were vindicated by a Santa Clara County jury after proving it was an acne mask.
In a recent ruling, a Santa Clara County jury determined that the school had not provided the teenagers with proper due process before expelling them.
Therefore, the school has been ordered to pay each of the teens $500,000 and refund $70,000 in tuition fees.
The decision has been hailed as significant, not only for the two students involved but also for all private high schools in California.
It sets a precedent that these schools must ensure fair procedures are followed when disciplining or expelling students.
The jury's decision plays an important role in proving that the school was not exempt from the law.
The jury's verdict affirmed that the procedures implemented by Saint Francis High School were unfair to the students and that the school was not exempt from the law.
Although they achieved a win, it's important to mention that the original lawsuit demanded $20 million in compensation and alleged defamation and violation of free speech.
However, the jury dismissed these accusations of the teens' parents.
The school has expressed its disagreement with the verdict and is exploring other legal options, including a possible appeal.
Meanwhile, the families of the wrongly accused teens have expressed gratitude to the jury and the court system for vindicating their sons and paving the way for their names to be cleared.
“We want to sincerely thank the jury and the court system for helping our boys and our families find justice, which now paves the way for their names to be cleared for things they never did,” one of the teens' families said.
