A proud dad says that prior to his graduation from the University of Buffalo, he was told that he could walk with his baby. But to his surprise, when he arrived at his commencement ceremony with his baby in tow, event staff told him that bringing his baby on stage would violate the school’s commencement rules.
The dad decided to bring his baby on stage anyway, which resulted in the two of them being chased by police in a chaotic moment that has since gone viral.
The determined dad ran across the stage with his son.
The viral video shows the dad, Jean-Paul Al-Arab, run onto stage during his University of Buffalo graduation ceremony. As he ran, he was holding his baby, who also sported a blue cap and gown for the special occasion. At least two police officers and two apparent university staff members chased them across the stage as the crowd cheered for them.
On TikTok, the dad told his version of the story.
After the chaotic moment went viral, the dad took to TikTok to explain what happened. “During a prep class for commencement, I asked if I could walk with my baby and they told me it was fine,” he wrote on TikTok. “But when the time came, they tried to stop me and even called the police.”
However, a university spokesperson said that no one called the police to deal with this situation, NBC News reported. Police officers were already at the commencement ceremony.
Although the dad said he was initially told that he could walk with his baby, he told WGRZ that on the day of the ceremony, event staff informed him that only graduates could go on stage. Bringing his baby with him was considered “a safety hazard,” he told the news outlet.
Instead of walking, the dad decided to run. “And I ran, that’s what I did. I had to,” he told the news outlet. “I promised him I was gonna walk with him on the stage.”
There are no hard feelings, though.
@jeanpaul_alarab I’m a full-time student, working two jobs—one of them overnight—and taking care of my son during the day until his mom gets home from work. And here I am, graduating, with my boy by my side. WE DID IT! #ub #comencement #baby #graduation ♬ original sound – NFL
While the dad didn’t expect to be chased by the police during his graduation ceremony, he told WGRZ that he has “nothing against” the University of Buffalo. “I love UB,” he told the news outlet. “I graduated from UB, I’m getting my master’s at UB. It’s a great college. I love my professors — everyone.”
On TikTok, he celebrated his achievement, even though things didn’t exactly go as planned. “I’m a full-time student, working two jobs—one of them overnight—and taking care of my son during the day until his mom gets home from work,” he wrote. “And here I am, graduating, with my boy by my side. WE DID IT!”
The university clarified that he ‘will not be penalized.’
The University of Buffalo released a statement in response to the incident. According to the university, the graduating dad “ignored multiple directives from university event staff and UB Police, ran away from officers, and broke commencement rules by bringing an infant onto the commencement stage at Alumni Arena.”
Per the release, the university’s commencement rules state, “only graduating students may participate in the graduation ceremony, including walking in the processional and crossing the stage.”
According to the statement, the dad later apologized for violating the rules and he will still receive his degree. His baby, however, will not … at least not yet.
“The infant, despite crossing the stage in a cap and gown, has not yet earned enough credits to receive a diploma,” the statement read. “We hope to see him back on stage in about 20 years so he can follow in his dad’s footsteps.”
On social media, many people sided with the dad.
Commenting on the dad’s video, many people said they were “applauding” him even though he technically violated the rules. “Hearing everyone cheer for you and your son plastered a smile on my face,” one person wrote.
A second person commented, “Crazy for them to try to ruin your moment!! They did way too much!!”
A third person suggested there were possibly some double standards at play. “It’s so strange they tried stopping you when they allow mothers to walk with their baby all the time,” they said.
