Threats, Harassment After Fairfield Instagram Bracket Controversy

FAIRFIELD, CT — School officials are asking for calm and patience from the Fairfield community after news of a tournament-style bracket that replaced team names with the names of high school girls resulted in threats and harassment for some of the students involved in the bracket’s creation.

The bracket was started by a small group of students from Warde and Ludlowe high schools, and circulated on Instagram, where users were encouraged to vote for one girl in each pairing. School officials Tuesday announced an investigation of the bracket, but misinformation and speculation online has hampered the school district’s efforts, according to a follow-up statement released Wednesday.

“We tell our students to think carefully before posting because what goes online lives forever,” Superintendent Mike Cummings said in the statement. “So we are asking families to do what we ask of our students. Think carefully before you post. Engage in meaningful, face-to-face conversations rather than venting online.”

The people who originally created the list of the girls’ names in the bracket did not post the polls, voting systems or multiple fake accounts that have allowed for its continued online presence, according to Cummings, who said the creators of the list and their families have been targeted, bullied and threatened.

“We condemn all forms of harassment and ask that no one escalate the situation further,” he said.

In the statement, Cummings included a message from a freshman girl who was affected by the bracket.

“I think the adults here are a big part of the issue,” the message said. “Obviously he messed up. But that does not give anyone the right to send him threats or shame his family. I think by assuming things and getting angry it is overshadowing the bigger issue, which was the fact that these girls were being objectified.”

Cummings also noted that students have been effective allies for one another in the aftermath of the bracket, reporting the situation, advocating for themselves and encouraging the poster to take the bracket down.

“We take this situation very seriously and commit to a thorough investigation,” Cummings said. “All students involved will be held accountable. Consequences will be appropriate relative to actions, and as part of our restorative practice, students will make amends.”