An Adelaide mother who made headlines for storming into a classroom and threatening her daughter's alleged bully has made a heartbreaking admission about the ordeal that led to her outburst.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at St Paul's College in Gilles Plains, northeast Adelaide. In a now-viral video obtained by 7News, the visibly distressed mother was seen issuing threats against a young girl in the classroom, warning her to stay away from her daughter.
"You ever f-king mess with my daughter again, I'll slit your f-king throat," the mother was heard yelling in the footage. She also made other expletive-laden remarks before leaving the school premises.
Now, speaking on KIIS FM's The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the woman—who is currently 20 weeks pregnant—explained the devastating impact bullying had on her 13-year-old daughter.
A Cry for Help Ignored
The mother revealed that her daughter had been severely bullied for over a year, leading to drastic changes in her behavior and well-being. She described how she noticed signs of distress, including uneaten, moldy sandwiches in her daughter's bag and emotional breakdowns at home.
"She had come home and she fell into my arms on the floor and said, 'Mum, I cannot do this anymore, what is the point of living?'" the mother recalled. She also said that the bully told her daughter to "hang herself," which was the final straw.
She claimed she had followed the appropriate channels to seek help from the school but was repeatedly ignored.
"I did everything in my power as a parent and so did my husband to make sure our daughter was safe, especially dropping her off at school," she said. "The school has been negligent ... they have ignored all aspects of what we stated about the bullying."
Divided Reactions
The mother's actions have sparked debate, with some condemning her threats while others sympathize with her frustration. Radio host Kyle Sandilands defended the woman, saying she had acted to protect her child.
"You did what you're supposed to do—you protected your child," he said.
Co-host Jackie O Henderson was visibly shaken by the mother's admission, criticizing the school for failing to intervene.
"It is disgusting that they didn't do anything for you," she said.
Despite the public backlash, the mother admitted that her behavior was inappropriate but insisted she was pushed to her breaking point.
"I don't want my daughter to be another statistic. I don't want to have to bury my child," she told 7News. "That is a breaking point for any parent ... I went into survival mode and protective mode."
She has since issued an apology, stating, "What everybody has seen of me is not who I am as a mother or as a person."
School and Government Response
South Australian police have launched an investigation into the incident, and St Paul's College has assured parents that the matter is being handled.
"The college remains committed to its duty of care for all students and staff," principal Patrick Harmer said in a statement. "We will continue to ensure the best possible support for our students and staff during this time."
The confrontation comes amid a crackdown on aggressive behavior from parents in South Australian schools. The state government recently introduced legislation granting principals the authority to ban parents from school grounds.
Premier Peter Malinauskas defended the new laws, stating, "Everyone has the right to feel safe at work, and our educators are no exception."
As the investigation continues, the case has reignited conversations about bullying in schools, the effectiveness of intervention measures, and the emotional toll such issues take on families.
