Now, this is a story all about how
A teen’s life got flipped-turned upside down
By a lady who didn’t know or care
About the words to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Even my out-of-touch with reality father would recognize the theme song to the television sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” He watched it with me and my brother, when the show was popular in the 90′s; then I watched reruns with my younger sister in later years.

Now, the theme to the show, which starred singer turned actor, Will Smith, is being blamed for putting schools in Beaver County, Pennsylvania on lock down last Thursday. A line from the song was taken as a threat by a receptionist who had obviously never seen “Fresh Prince” before.

The strange misunderstanding began, when a local eye doctor’s office called a phone belonging to 19-year old Travis Clawson to remind him of an upcoming appointment.

The Ambridge High School student did not answer, and the call went to his voice mail. The voice mail greeting features Clawson mimicking the line from the “Fresh Prince” theme that says, “and all shooting some B-ball outside of the school.”

Apparently, the receptionist misunderstood the message for a threat about “shooting people outside of the school.” She then called the police, who put local schools on lockdown, while they searched for Clawson. They eventually found him in the high school guidance counselor’s office and took him into custody.

James Mann of the Ambridge Police department says Clawson told them he only meant to imitate Will Smith’s song from the “Fresh Prince.”

Mann also believes “everyone acted appropriately” to keep the local children safe.

Listen to what Mason and Nikki had to say:

Now that I’ve planted this ear virus in your head, let’s watch the video and sing along!