Video of Spectra Secondary School students dancing to gang chant is fake

The original footage was taken from a 2019 school event called 'Spectra Got Talent'.

Zhangxin Zheng | February 21, 2020, 12:59 PM

Misinformation can spread like wildfire via social media these days unless one reports to the authorities in time or takes additional efforts to verify the content.

The latest victim of misinformation is Spectra Secondary School, a specialised school for Normal Technical students located in Woodlands.

Viral video of students dancing to gang chant is fake

A video showing a hall filled with Spectra Secondary School students dancing to a gang chant was circulating online recently.

Teachers were also spotted standing at the side of the hall, watching the students on stage.

The video was shared to the "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook group on Feb. 17 with the caption describing the school as "v ganster", which means "very gangster".

Screenshot via "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook.

Many of those who watched the video appeared to be surprised that a gang chant in the school was acceptable.

A few were able to point out that the video was actually post-edited with an audio clip of the gang chant taken from YouTube.

The post has been taken down but here are some screenshots from the comment section:

Screenshot via "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook.

Screenshot via "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook.

Screenshot via "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook.

Screenshot via "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook.

Screenshot via "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook.

Spectra Secondary School makes police report

In response to Mothership's query, the principal of Spectra Secondary School, Tan Teck Hock, said that the school has made a police report against this doctored video and requested Instagram to take it down.

Mothership has also verified with the police that a report has indeed been lodged.

Tan said the school is "aware and concerned" that the video will give members of the public the wrong impression that students were dancing to gang chants.

He clarified that the original footage was taken from a 2019 school event called "Spectra Got Talent", in celebration of Teachers' Day in September.

Here's the original clip:

Tan also said that he hopes to take this opportunity to dispel any subconscious prejudice or misconceptions against students from Spectra Secondary School.

Here's the statement in full:

"The school is aware and concerned that there was a doctored video circulating online, giving the wrong impression that our students were dancing to gang chants. The original footage was of our school event, “Spectra Got Talent”, held during Teachers’ Day Celebrations in 2019, during which our students were dancing to ‘YMCA’ by the Village People. The school will use this opportunity to educate our students about fake news and the misappropriation of social media. We also hope to dispel any subconscious prejudice or misconception against our students, as a result of this doctored video."

Here are some amazing stories from Spectra Secondary School, if you are interested:

Top photo collage via "A group where we pretend to be YP Bengs" Facebook