Viral video shows basketball player with epilepsy apparently mocked by student faking seizure: 'I was embarrassed in front of thousands while on the court doing what I love'

Maggie Parker
As James Franklin Jr. shot a free throw, a student from an opposing school appeared to fake a seizure, and the video went viral. (Photo: Twitter @Dooman_2)
As James Franklin Jr. shot a free throw, a student from an opposing school appeared to fake a seizure, and the video went viral. (Photo: Twitter @Dooman_2)

James Franklin Jr. is a high school basketball player in Indiana who also happens to be epileptic. After he played in a game Friday night, a video went viral of a student from the opposing school apparently mocking Franklin Jr. by faking a seizure.

While Franklin Jr. was at the free-throw line, a student in front of the bleachers flopped on the floor behind the net and started convulsing. The student reportedly goes to Center Grove High School, which Franklin Jr.’s Cathedral High School team was playing that night.

If it were just that, it could have simply been a silly attempt to distract the player, not meant to make a mockery of his condition.

“The kid and school are stating the situation was just a ‘coincidence,'” his mother, Tamieka Franklin, tells Yahoo Lifestyle, but she doesn’t believe them.

Neither does her son. Later in the game, Franklin Jr. took the ball out on the sideline and got close enough to the students to hear them chant, “Have another seizure for us,” according to his Twitter post. “That shows me they did their homework and it was not a coincidence,” his mom told the Indianapolis Star. Cathedral basketball coach Jason Delaney agreed, telling the Indianapolis Star he did not doubt “there was intent to make fun of Franklin.”

After the game, Franklin Jr. shared a video of the student’s fake seizure on Twitter, and it’s been viewed 440,000 times.

It also has over 4,000 supportive comments.

Other epileptic people in the sports industry have reached out to the student.

Some who know what it’s like to suffer a seizure are commiserating with and thanking the basketball player for being a role model.

Schools are also standing up for the student.

Franklin Jr. is impressive, to say the least, and not just because of his focus and sports skills. In August 2017, the senior who dreams of playing basketball in the future underwent brain surgery to alleviate the epileptic seizures he had battled since birth, according to the Indianapolis Star. Before the surgery, he was taking 11 medications a day to control the seizures, KTNV reported.

Luckily, the surgery was successful and he hasn’t had a seizure since. But the operation took part of Franklin Jr.’s brain, according to the Indianapolis Star. Now, he battles depression. “He has to overcome a lot of insecurities in his life,” his mom said. “It has had a huge impact on him.” It took him only two weeks after surgery to get back on the court, she says. “James been playing basketball since the first grade, it is truly his passion and relief,” she adds.

“James is a warrior,” Delaney told the Indianapolis Star. “No one sets a better example or fights harder than James Franklin.”

But, a cruel joke can hurt even the strongest of fighters. “Today was a very emotional day for me,” Franklin Jr. tweeted the day after the game. He described the moment as being “embarrassed in front of thousands” while doing what he loves. “His response after was a shock and hurt at once,” his mom recalls.

“If they knew what it is like to not be able to drive, not to be able to go anywhere by yourself, be left alone, can’t even use the restroom without closing the door, you wouldn’t make a mockery of such a thing,” he told KTNV.

His mom is appalled. “To see that [Friday] was totally disgusting,” Franklin said to KTNV. “Very hurtful,” she added. “It didn’t really hit us until we went to dinner after the game,” Franklin told the Indianapolis Star. “It was like, ‘Did that really happen? Did they really mock a young man who has overcome a disability to play the sport he loves?’”

The video originally took off after former NFL player and current sports analyst Pat McAfee shared it on Twitter, allegedly not realizing Franklin Jr. was being mocked. He has since deleted the post and “formally apologized” to Franklin for promoting it.

According to his mom, the student who mocked her son has also apologized. But the school is sticking with the student’s story, she says.

Center Grove gave Yahoo Lifestyle a statement regarding the incident. “We are working collaboratively with the administrative staff and athletic department at Cathedral to address these issues,” they wrote. “Our goal is to always create an environment where sportsmanship and quality competition can thrive. We do not condone any behavior intended to mock, disparage or humiliate any player or student.” It posted a similar statement on Twitter.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association tweeted that it wants to use this “unfortunate student fan incident” as a “learning experience” and that its administrators are “addressing the matter.”

Another high school that is playing Cathedral soon is raising money this week for epilepsy. “In light of recent events in central Indiana, Warren Central High School and Walker Career Center will spend this week raising funds for epilepsy awareness and education,” the fundraiser page states. “All proceeds will go to the Epilepsy Foundation of Indianapolis. Staff will present the check at the Warren Central vs. Cathedral game this Friday night.”

“This has never happened to James,” Franklin Jr.’s mom says. “We’ve received nothing but love from our community and everyone else who knows James’ story.”

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