California High School Football Coach Otis Newell Fired For Appearing In Rap Video
Otis Newell, a California high school football coach, has been for appearing in a rap video.
According to a report by USA Today Sports, reported via MSN, Newell was the defensive coordinator at Simi Valley High School in California when one of his fellow coaches, who has not been identified, discovered a music video he had appeared in. The video was for the song “U Need It, I Got It,” and reportedly showed Otis selling drugs out of an ice cream truck.
Newell, who served as a youth coach for over 10 years, said the video was meant to be about his upbringing, in which gangs and drugs were a part of everyday life. The father of two, who grew up in Watts, went on to say that the video does not depict his current lifestyle and one of his main goals is to keep today’s youth off of the streets and off of drugs, Yard Barker reports.
High School Football Coach Fired After His Rap Video Is Discovered http://t.co/DY2b1cogon pic.twitter.com/sYMaqq8fj7
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) August 26, 2015
“My message in the song is that you need to have hustle to actually make it in this world. Nobody’s gonna hand you anything,” Newell said, following the news of his termination. “Drug and gang violence were an everyday part of my life growing up, so the music that I make tells that story.”
“I used football to get me out of my situation. I moved out of (my hometown in California), I got me a scholarship, I have two degrees.”
Despite Newell’s explanation, the school district deemed it inappropriate, and made the decision to let him go from his position. Below is the emailed explanation from Semi Valley High School to Newell.
“Although the music video and song lyrics are not reflective of how you are currently living your life as a husband, father, or coach, the images and activities portrayed in the video are ones we cannot support.
Therefore, reinstating you as a football coach with Simi Valley Unified is not possible. We do wish you the best of luck with your personal and professional endeavors moving forward.”
The school did note, however, that Newell’s “ethics, morals, and character as a human being are not being questioned.”
Many of Newell’s past past players said they support their former coach, and that he played a pivotal role in them making it to college.
Do you think Otis Newell should have been fired? Leave your comments.
[Photo via video screenshot]
