‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ theme song prompts countywide school lockdown
An eye doctor receptionist’s misinterpretation of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song on Thursday prompted a lockdown of all Beaver County schools, according to a report from The Times Online.
The receptionist called 19-year-old Ambridge Area High School Student Travis Clawson to remind him about an appointment Thursday morning.
He didn’t pick up, so she was redirected to his voicemail, whose recorded greeting was Clawson’s imitation of Will Smith rapping the theme song of 90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
The receptionist apparently misheard the lyric “and all shooting some b-ball outside of the school” as a threat about “shooting people outside of the school.” She quickly notified authorities.
All Beaver County schools were placed on lockdown for about 20 minutes as police searched for Clawson. They eventually found him –in his high school guidance counselor’s office.
Clawson was taken into custody, but released after investigators reviewed the recording and found that it did, in fact, closely resemble “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme.
The teen’s family has reportedly consulted with an attorney to review possible legal actions in response to what they say was an embarrassing misunderstanding.
