Singer (and recently certified TikTok star) Meghan Trainor has recently come under fire after making some pretty defamatory statements about teachers and the school system in the US.

During the last episode of her podcast Workin On It—which featured controversial influencer Trisha Paytas who, funnily enough, always seems to find herself in the centre of an online drama—Trainor discussed how she planned on homeschooling her children.

The singer noted that she’d seen videos on TikTok where parents had spoken about their kids having to wear bulletproof backpacks to school and explained that it completely turned her off the idea of her own children going to public school in the country.

Now, this particular sentiment is understandably valid. Not only have mass shootings in America been at a record pace during 2023 so far, there have been 377 school shootings since 1999—a figure that would leave any parent highly cautious and anxious about letting their children go to school.

However, it was Trainor’s next comment that really hit a nerve with educators online. The ‘All About That Bass’ singer (who was clearly riled up at this point) stated: “Fuck teachers!”

Practically instantaneously, teachers began sharing their anger on TikTok—stitching the podcast clip and criticising Trainor for making such a hurtful comment. One user shared how they understand that there are teachers who cause trauma and can be problematic, but that “it’s not the majority.”

@glitterbeardteach

@meghantrainor this is really disappointing. Teachers are under attack so much in the media and this sentiment isnt helpful. There are bad teachers, but that isnt the experience for the majority of kids. Honestly, maybe I trust that too many people are good? I don’t know. I understand wanting to homeschool for whatever your reasons may be. But, this made it through to the final episode? @workinonitpod this was disappointing. #meghantrainor #ryantrainor #workinonitpod #respectteachers #dobetter

♬ Lo-fi hip hop - NAO-K

The individual went on to note that “we’re already in a very anti-teacher place, so the disconnect with reality is really apparent and sad. When you have a following that large and are that much of a celebrity, everything that you say is very important. This is just a gross miss from Meghan Trainor, which really sucks.”

Another TikToker, a user by the name of Soogia, posted on the video-sharing app and stated: “The thing I want to talk about most is the privilege with which you speak those words. You’re never going to have to know what it feels like to send your kids to school because you have the privilege to keep them at home and to most likely hire someone to teach them for you if you wanted to. Most of us do not have that privilege. You being so flippant about the whole thing was really gross to me.”

@soogia1

@meghantrainor I drafted this before I saw that you posted your apology, but I still think you need to see this video as well. meghantrainor supportteachers gunreform trishapaytas greenscreenvideo

♬ 3 minutes - StMooY7

The creator continued: “When you say ‘Fuck teachers’, those are the people who parents like me, and most parents, rely on to help protect our kids because we’re not there. In a lot of cases, a lot of teachers have given up their lives to protect the lives of children.”

Following the initial wave of backlash, Trainor released an apology statement regarding her comments. The singer posted a video to her personal TikTok saying: “Teachers of TikTok and teachers of the world, I recently said ‘Fuck teachers’ on the podcast and it’s not how I feel. I was fired up because we were talking about how sending your kid to school here in America is so horrific.”

@meghantrainor

@galsgotmoxie thank you for making your video and for bringing attention to this. I am sorry for being careless with my words. I LOVE teachers and I am here for you ❤️ Let’s work to make schools a better place together

♬ original sound - Meghan Trainor

The Grammy winner continued: “I did not mean [to say that about] all teachers. I love teachers, I fight for teachers. I think they have the hardest job and they are the most underpaid. They are the most unappreciated when they literally raise all of us. I don’t want to make excuses, I just want to [say] I am so sorry.”