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Fact Check: Viral Video of Crying Child From Cyclone Is a Scripted School Drama

Misleading
Misleading

A viral video claiming to show a cyclone-affected child recounting trauma was misleading; FactSeeker confirmed it was a scripted school drama performed during a morning assembly.

by Anonymous |

December 18, 2025

FactSeeker has verified a video circulating on social media that falsely claims to show a young boy traumatised by the recent Ditwa cyclone breaking down while recounting his experience during a school morning assembly. In the footage, two teachers are seen prompting the child to speak, which has triggered widespread criticism online.

Social media users condemned the teachers’ conduct, describing it as “unacceptable” and “shameful,” and accused the school of forcing a child to relive traumatic experiences in front of fellow students.

Following a request from the school administration to clarify the situation, FactSeeker carried out an investigation. To protect the privacy of those involved, the identity of the school is being withheld.

FactSeeker confirmed that the school shown in the video was not affected by the recent natural disaster. The school principal stated that the video captures a scripted drama performance presented during the morning assembly on December 16, 2025. The programme was organised by the school’s drama club with the involvement of teaching staff, including a drama counselling teacher.

The principal further clarified that the student featured in the video is a member of the drama club and was not personally affected by the cyclone. The school also confirmed that none of its students were victims of the disaster. According to the administration, the performance was intended to raise awareness and encourage empathy among students about the hardships faced by communities affected by natural disasters.

FactSeeker also verified the official programme schedule for that morning’s assembly, which included the drama performance.

Conclusion

FactSeeker concludes that the viral video does not show a traumatised disaster survivor being pressured by teachers to speak. Instead, it depicts a scripted school drama performed for educational purposes. The video is being circulated online with a misleading narrative, resulting in unjustified criticism of the teachers and the school.

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