SC school official could lose job for mocking 6-year-old girl as 'Honey Boo-Boo' on Facebook

A school administrator in South Carolina has been placed on administrative leave for mocking a 6-year-old girl on Facebook.

Hundreds have signed a petition asking for Charles Fowler to be fired from his job as assistant principal at Walhalla High School after posting comments about the girl’s photo on social media.

Fowler took a photo of the kindergartner while out shopping and described her as “Honey Boo-Boo in Wal-Mart,” referring to the reality TV star.

The girl’s great-grandmother said the child stayed home from school Monday because of the widely viewed Facebook post.

“(My great-granddaughter) was up until after midnight and she was saying, 'Nanny, people are calling me Honey Boo-Boo,'” Thompson said. “She said, ‘Nanny, I've got to lose some weight,’ and she said, ‘I don't want people to see me like this. She is so sweet and for someone to hurt her feelings like that -- not only hers, but all our family. It's just so embarrassing you know, but more hurtful than embarrassing.”

Thompson said she would meet Tuesday with Oconee County School District officials.

“(Fowler) just picked her out in Wal-Mart and then wants to ridicule her and call her Honey Boo-Boo just because she's overweight,” the woman said. “She's got health problems. I take her to the doctor for that. He has devastated my family. He has embarrassed us.”

A spokesman for the school district said the incident was under investigation, and they would follow disciplinary guidelines once they made their findings.

“We're certainly sorry this has become an issue,” said Michael Thorsland, assistant superintendent for operations. “We shouldn't be dealing with something like this."

Watch this video report posted online by WYFF-TV: