Cheerleaders on Probation for TikTok School Shooting Skit

16 middle school cheerleaders in rural East Tennessee faced legal consequences after filming a 45-second TikTok reenactment of a school shooting while waiting for practice.

The video, shared online in September, depicted the girls pretending to be shot and killed, with one giving a mock command to "put your hands up." Police visited the school the following day, questioning the students and charging them with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The cheerleaders ultimately received three months' probation and were each required to pay court fees exceeding $100.

Authorities defended the charges as a warning against such content, while critics, including families and violence prevention experts, argued that severe penalties do not enhance school safety and can cause unnecessary distress.