Roommates, Immanuel Christian School has been under fire since 12-year-old Amari Allen claimed she has been pinned down by three white classmates, who proceeded to cut her dreadlocks. Now, the school says Amari has admitted fabricating the entire incident.
According to CNN, the school has confirmed with Amari and her family that the allegations were not true, and she did in fact make the story up.
“We can now confirm that the student who accused three of her classmates of assault has acknowledged that the allegations were false,” Stephen Danish, head of Immanuel Christian School, said in a statement.
As we previously reported, Amari told CNN that three white boys at her school in Springfield Virginia, pinned her to playground slide. She said the boys held her hands behind her back, covered her mouth, and cut her dreadlocks.
“They said my hair was nappy and I was ugly,” she said.
Amari’s claims have not only shined a negative light on her school and its administration, but has also “devastated” her family. Amari’s aunt Lakeisha Allen says the family is embarrassed, and send apologues to CNN and Immanuel Christian School.
She admits Amari did indeed have a verbal dispute with the boys, but “embellished the story.”
The Allen family has also issued an apology in the form of a statement saying:
“To the young boys and their parents, we sincerely apologize for the pain and anxiety these allegations have caused. To the administrators and families of Immanuel Christian School, we are sorry for the damage this incident has done to trust within the school family and the undue scorn it has brought to the school. To the broader community, who rallied in such passionate support for our daughter, we apologize for betraying your trust.”
Amari’s family reportedly admits they will be seeking counseling for her, to uncover what could’ve sparked her behavior.
“We understand there will be consequences, and we’re prepared to take responsibility for them,” they said. “We all know that it will take pimento heal, and we hope and pray that the boys, their families, the school and the broader community will be able to forgive us in time.”
