Graduate explains diploma-tearing scandal: 'It was a copy'

The story of a student who demonstratively tore up a document on stage during a graduation ceremony has taken a new turn. After the video spread widely on social media and sparked heated discussion, ICB College (International College of Business and Communications) published an official statement on behalf of the student, reports infohub.kz.

In his statement, he apologized to teachers, college administration, and anyone who might have been offended by the published video. "I sincerely apologize to the teachers, college administration, and everyone who may have been hurt by the video from the graduation ceremony that circulated on social media," the statement read.

The student also added that the official diploma was not damaged. He said he had prepared a copy of the document in advance for his performance. "I want to note that the official diploma was not damaged. For the performance, I prepared a copy of it in advance. There was no malicious intent or intention to show disrespect to the college and its values," he said.

In conclusion, the graduate expressed regret over the incident and promised it would not happen again. "I sincerely regret what happened and promise that such a situation will not recur," the student stated. After the statement was published, comments on the college's page were restricted.

As previously reported, a video from the graduation ceremony circulated on social media. The footage shows a student receiving a diploma on stage and immediately tearing it up in front of the audience. The clip quickly went viral and became a subject of intense discussion. Most users criticized the graduate's actions, calling it a sign of disrespect towards education, the teachers' work, and the institution itself. However, some commenters urged against jumping to conclusions, noting that the reasons for the act were unknown.

Users left a variety of comments under the video posts. Some speculated that the student could later obtain a duplicate diploma, while others argued he should not. "He'll just get a duplicate later," wrote one user. Others noted that, in their view, only the document cover might have been damaged, not the diploma itself. There was also sharp criticism. "Personally, I do not support such an act. Regardless of the educational institution, I believe there should be respect at least for the teachers who work there," one commenter said. Other users called the incident "disrespectful" and said the graduate should not be issued a duplicate document.