A viral video filmed at Louisiana State University (LSU) has the internet up in arms and even triggered a heated debate after what appears to be a student of Caucasian descent was recorded dragging a dark-skinned baby doll across campus with a rope tied around its neck. It’s not clear what the stunt was for, but it appears LSU has acknowledged the video and is investigating the incident.
The footage was reportedly recorded inside the LSU Student Union in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, around 12:43 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19, according to information shared by a student’s parent. The student who recorded the scene sent the video to her parent, who subsequently posted it online. In the video, what appears to be a White female student can be seen walking along with a person of color while dragging a Black or dark-skinned baby doll around the campus using a rope tied to its neck.
LSU has confirmed that it is aware of the footage and said its Office of Student Affairs is investigating the incident. One parent wrote that the doll had a string around its neck and questioned why the student was apparently allowed to walk around campus with it without being stopped. “What’s really going on?” another commenter wrote, expressing disbelief that the behavior had allegedly continued for some time.
An alleged mother came forth with an explanation
As the controversy grew, however, a woman on Facebook named Eunice Pichon, identifying herself as the mother of the Black student seen in connection with the incident, offered a different explanation. Eunice Pichon said her daughter had been given the Black doll the previous year and had told her that she planned to bring it around campus. Pichon said she did not know what her daughter and her friend intended to do with it and was herself “appalled” after seeing the video.
According to Pichon, the two students said they were attempting to be funny but did not intend the incident to carry a racist message. She said she instructed them to speak with their resident adviser, apologize, and dispose of the doll. She also said her daughter wanted to apologize to university staff.
Sadly, Pichon’s online explanation has not stopped the debate. Online commenters have disputed whether the incident was connected to a sorority, a social experiment, or simply an attempt to provoke reactions. Others urged people not to assume the students’ motives before LSU completes its investigation.
“What the actual [expletive],” one commenter wrote, summing up the reaction from many viewers. Another urged caution, saying people should “find out what is happening before becoming an angry mob.” For now, LSU’s investigation remains the key unanswered piece of the controversy. The university has not publicly announced disciplinary action or confirmed the students’ motivations at the time of writing.
