By Peter Berton
COCOA, Fla. – Robert Marucci is back in class at Cocoa High School days after receiving a 10-day suspension as a result of being outed as a gay porn performer.
Brevard Schools spokeswoman Michelle Irwin said CHS Principal Stephanie Soliven and Marucci reached “an agreement” so the young man would not be prevented from graduating in the spring.
The school board’s about-face followed a wave of media outrage and Facebook flack. The circus commenced when CHS students discovered explicit images and videos featuring Marucci on the gay adult website SeanCody.com. Although Marucci, 18, used the nom de porn “Noel” on the website, he is easily identifiable in the images and videos. Classmates shared the material on their cell phones, and reportedly bullying ensued.
School officials subsequently suspended Marucci for 10 days, saying he created “a major disruption.” The suspension would have placed a mandatory block on his graduation under district rules related to “failure from absences.”
“It’s easy to become emotional about a situation when it looks like a student is being targeted for his lifestyle choices, but that is not the case here,” Irwin told reporters during a media conference. “We will continue to work with the student and his family to make sure he graduates and moves on with his education.”
Marucci appeared underwhelmed by the school’s explanation.
“I feel like I have been treated unfairly and this is unjust,” he told WKMG-TV in Orlando, Fla. “This was completely legal. I didn’t break any laws, and this took place out of the school.”
Marucci’s mother, Melyssa Lieb, stood by her son, who she said became an adult performer in order to pay household bills.
“I think he’s the most awesome person in the world,” Lieb told WKMG. “He stood up and he was the man of the house when I couldn’t be.”
[SIZE=1]Image: Robert Marucci as “Noel” on SeanCody.com.[/SIZE]
