Athens City Schools Superintendent Dr. Trey Holladay says claims by an Athens High School band member that he was singled out for being gay and wearing makeup are “completely unfounded.”

The claims follow an incident at the Athens Trustmark Christmas Parade in which the band member and former assistant drum major, Drew Laney, was escorted by Athens police from the parade. Holladay said Laney had been previously told by band director Steven Porter there was only room for drum major Angelina Guilbert to lead the band in the parade. However, Laney showed up to the parade in his drum major uniform anyway and insisted he should be allowed to lead the band alongside Guilbert, Holladay said.

After repeatedly asking Laney to leave the parade on his own accord, Porter contacted AHS Principal Dr. Travis Schrimsher, who Holladay said advised him to get the police involved.

Shortly after police escorted Laney from the parade, he took to social media to complain about the situation. In a video that seems to be recorded while Laney is driving, he claims when he refused to relinquish his place as drum major during a meeting the morning of the parade, Porter “put his hands in (his) face” and called him worthless.

Later in the video, Laney says Porter has an issue with him because Laney is gay and speaks his mind.

“If something isn’t right, I am going to say something about it,” Laney says in the video. “… For him to have pulled me out of my senior Christmas parade, the last thing I ever get to do with my marching band that I have dedicated nine years of my life to is ridiculous.”

Holladay said after a thorough investigation that included interviews with several eyewitnesses, “there was nothing we could find negative on the school’s behalf.”

“The principal and band director did not discriminate against Laney in any way,” Holladay said, adding that he stands behind Porter’s decision to have Laney removed from the parade.

“The young man put himself in that situation by ignoring the band director,” he said.

When interviewed by a local TV news outlet over the weekend, Laney told a different story, claiming Porter ousted him from his role as drum major for wearing makeup. Holladay contested these claims as well, noting Laney has been allowed to wear makeup throughout the school year, both in school and during marching band events.

Furthermore, Holladay said, Laney and his mother admitted makeup wasn’t the issue during a meeting with school officials.

Laney has since quit the AHS band. Holladay said he may be subject to disciplinary action.