Apple Martin, daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, has denied false rumours that she was expelled from school for bullying. The 21-year-old model took to Instagram to state: 'I have never been expelled from any school, especially not for bullying anyone.' The post has since been deleted, reportedly after attracting a slew of insults.
Comedian and writer Ava Vidal, who was expelled from three boarding schools, reflects on the lasting stigma of expulsion. She notes that in fee-paying schools, behaviour standards are higher and students can be asked to leave for actions that might reflect poorly on the institution. However, she adds that schools sometimes overlook misbehaviour if a student excels in sports or their family contributes financially.
Vidal recalls her own expulsions: sneaking out to buy sweets, starting a Black Panthers chapter and staging a sit-in, and helping local friends steal canoes. She says the reasons were not terrible, but the label of 'expelled' still follows her. She questions why it is used as a stick to beat people with, even decades later.
Vidal concludes that while Apple Martin may have been the target of false rumours, the broader issue is how society judges people based on past mistakes. She urges a more nuanced view of expulsion, noting that many factors, such as home life or being a minority, can contribute to a student's behaviour.
