A high school principal in Louisiana has been placed on administrative leave after he allegedly arranged an unsanctioned campus visit from controversial rapper Boosie Badazz. Rapper Torrence 'Boosie Badazz' Hatch, 43, posted a video of himself greeting a roaring crowd in the gymnasium at Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Wednesday.
Another video posted by a parent on Facebook, captioned 'Boosie Come Through for Northside,' showed the rapper entering the building to his song Wipe Me Down and posing with students. One commenter asked where the photos were taken, and the poster replied, 'Northside High School.'
Just days later, Northside High School principal James Rollins was placed on administrative leave amid reports that the rapper's visit was not approved by the school district, according to The Acadiana Advocate. Officials with the Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) confirmed Rollins was placed on leave but would not explain why, stating they cannot comment on personal issues. Sources told the newspaper that Hatch's visit to Northside was done without district approval, which violates LPSS policy.
Hatch was scheduled to visit nearby Carencro High School on Tuesday, but his travel was delayed and the visit was cancelled. School board member Josh Edmond and Carencro football coach Gavin Peters met with Hatch at Northgate Mall, which is adjacent to Northside High School, on Wednesday, according to social media posts. Edmond told The Acadiana Advocate he did not accompany Hatch to Northside but followed all protocol in arranging the Carencro visit. The Daily Mail contacted Hatch, Rollins, Edmond, Peters, Northside High School, and LPSS for comment.
As well as visiting the school, Hatch was honored by the St Landry Parish Government on Wednesday when Parish President Jessie Bellard declared May 10 to be 'Boosie Badazz Day.' The government wrote on Facebook: 'With strong ties to St. Landry Parish - including performing multiple times at The Delta Grand in Opelousas early in his career - Boosie continues to represent the resilience, creativity, and cultural identity of our state. As he prepares to host the "Dukes and Boots" event at the St Landry Parish Government Ag Arena on Sunday, May 10, 2026, we also recognize the positive impact events like this bring to our parish through tourism and community engagement.'
Hatch was in the area to promote his annual concert, Boosie Bash, which he has hosted in Baton Rouge since 2017. On Thursday, Hatch was struck by a basketball player while sitting courtside at a playoff game in Atlanta. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson crashed straight into Hatch as he sat courtside, sending both of them to the ground. While Brunson tried helping him up, Hatch clutched his knee as he writhed around on the ground in 'pain' from the collision. Hatch, who is a big Hawks fan despite being from New Orleans Pelicans territory, then was seen smacking the court in anger before proceedings returned to normal.
Hatch has had a slew of controversies and legal issues, including when he faced trial for first-degree murder before being found not guilty. His criminal record dates back to 2009 when he was arrested and served time in prison for gun and drug convictions. In January, Hatch was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition stemming from a 2023 arrest in California. He also has faced criticism for his homophobic statements, including against the transgender daughter of Dwyane Wade and rapper Lil Nas X, the latter of whom he urged to commit suicide.
