Gay middle-schooler blasts ‘f–king ridiculous’ school in viral graduation speech
A Kentucky eighth-grader, Daniel Mattingly, gained viral attention for his unsanctioned graduation speech where he criticized his school for its perceived racism, sexism, and homophobia. Mattingly, who lost both parents to cancer, aimed to encourage students facing trauma but deviated from his approved script. His speech concluded with a call for students to stand up for themselves, receiving enthusiastic applause from his peers.
- ▪Daniel Mattingly delivered a graduation speech that criticized his school for being built on racism, sexism, and homophobia.
- ▪He was initially required to change his speech multiple times before being allowed to speak at the commencement.
- ▪Mattingly's original speech aimed to encourage students dealing with trauma, reflecting on his own experiences of loss.
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US News Gay middle-schooler blasts ‘f–king ridiculous’ school in viral graduation speech By Jared Downing Published May 24, 2026, 11:43 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google A Kentucky eighth-grader has gone viral for going off-script and roasting his “f–king ridiculous” school in a graduation speech.Daniel Mattingly abandoned his approved script during Thursday’s commencement at Stuart Middle School in Louisville and instead railed against the school, which he said is “built on racism, sexism and homophobia.“Apparently, this school doesn’t know better than to give an angry gay kid a microphone,” Mattingly says in a now-viral clip of the speech.After awkward laughter from the audience, Mattingly revealed that faculty shot down the…
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