UPDATE: Jared Hensley reportedly issued a statement Thursday apologizing for his comments, describing them as a "poor choice of words." Hamilton County Schools said in a statement that as a result of a district investigation, Hensley was suspended for 10 days without pay. He will also be required to complete a professional growth plan that includes sensitivity training and Title IX training.
The athletic director and assistant principal of a Tennessee high school has been placed on leave after his comments about how girls "pretty much ruin everything" went viral.
Jared Hensley made the comment in a video about banning athletic shorts at Soddy Daisy High School, near Chattanooga.
He explained that boys might not think the new dress code is fair since male athletic shorts typically hit below the knee, but they must follow the rule.
"If you really want someone to blame, blame the girls," Hensley said. "'Cause they pretty much ruin everything. They ruin the dress code, they ruin — well, ask Adam. Look at Eve. ... You can really go back to the beginning of time."
"It will be like that the rest of your life," he added. "Get used to it. Just keep your mouth shut. Suck it up. Follow the rules."
The original version of the clip is no longer available online, but it was shared on YouTube by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which broke the story.
In the wake of the news, some students have come to Hensley's defense.
Yet others aren't pleased, especially in the age of the #MeToo movement, and as the country is taking a closer look at how women are treated.
Soddy Daisy High School is part of the Hamilton County School District. The district's superintendent responded to uproar over the video in a statement posted online.
"We find the comments about young women in this video inexcusable, as the sentiments expressed do not align with the values of Hamilton County Schools," superintendent Bryan Johnson said in part. "The situation is under investigation, and this employee has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately."
The school district confirmed Hensley's role at Soddy Daisy, but declined to comment further when reached by TODAY. Hensley has not yet responded to a request for comment.
