A Pennsylvania middle school teacher is under investigation after it was recently discovered that his wrestling character persona is partially inspired by Nazis.
Kevin Bean, 36, is being investigated by the Spring-Ford Area School District where he teaches fifth and sixth grade students in Boyertown, The Philly Voice reported Saturday.
Bean’s wrestling persona is “Blitzkrieg the German Juggernaut,” a character who waves a flag featuring the German Iron Cross and reportedly does Nazi salutes while entering the ring.
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The teacher also yells “Sieg heil” while wearing an German SS-style lightening bolt on his shirt, according to an online video posted by the World Wide Wrestling Association (WWWA) last month.
Erin Crew, the manager of communications and marketing with the Spring-Ford Area School District, told The Philly Voice that they were made aware of videos featuring Bean on Thursday.
Crew said an investigation has been launched but would not provide more details on the personnel matter.
The district added in an additional email that the video of Bean does “not represent the core values of the school district.”
“As an educational organization, we pride ourselves in providing a safe and nurturing learning environment,” the Spring-Ford Area School District said in the statement.
Bean could not be reached by the outlet for comment.
The Blast first reported on the teacher’s wrestling character.
Dino Sanna, owner of WWWA, told The Blast that Bean is a “good guy and not a hateful person.”
Sanna said Bean is very religious and is very involved in his local church.
The Nazi character has been Bean’s “gimmick” for a while and some of his students were even in the audience during the wrestling match, Sanna told The Blast.