An Oklahoma elementary school principal named Shane Murnan resigned after decades-old child pornography charges against him resurfaced and went viral.
Shane Murnan had been hired as principal at John Glenn Elementary while also performing as a drag queen named Shantel Mandalay.
In 2001, he was arrested for images of child sex acts found on his computer, though charges were later dropped when ages couldn’t be proven.
An Oklahoma principal with a side gig as a drag queen says he was forced to resign under pressure from state Superintendent Ryan Walters and others. https://t.co/bLg3U8gnfJ
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 13, 2024
An NBC article on the situation buried the key details of the child pornography charges until the 13th paragraph, framing the story more around his drag identity and ideological targeting.
When hired in 2022, the district acknowledged knowing of the past charges but said he was highly recommended.
After right-leaning social media accounts publicized the charges, the superintendent and parents called for his removal.
“I’ve heard from parents all over the state,” State Superintendent Ryan Walters said. “They want this principal out of the school, and I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that that happens.”
Murnan eventually resigned under pressure, claiming his dual identities as an educator and drag performer were accepted until political forces destroyed his career.
“I’m a very professional person — I’ve worked really hard,” Murnan said. “I’ve gone to school. I got my bachelor’s, my master’s, my doctorate — I have been devoted to education, trying to make it a better thing. But they’ve destroyed me, and I don’t know where I’m going or what I’m doing now. This has been a nightmare.”
Most Popular:
Cause of Death Released For ‘Rocky’ Movie Star
Supreme Court Audio Suggests Trump Case Is Doomed
