Texas Teacher Files Police Report After Students Steal $300 Hello Kitty Funko Pop — and the Internet Has Thoughts

Shalena
Oct 11
2 min read

When high school teacher Jasmine Seals walked into her Texas classroom last week, she didn’t expect a viral moment — but that’s exactly what happened after she filed a police report over a stolen Hello Kitty Funko Pop valued at $300.

The collectible, which she says was a gift from a former student and carried deep sentimental value, went missing from her desk during a routine class period. Seals says she gave students multiple chances to “make it right” even offering amnesty if the item was quietly returned. When no one came forward, she decided to involve the authorities.

“It’s not just about a toy,” Seals explained in a now-viral Facebook video. “It’s about boundaries, respect, and the fact that something meaningful to me was taken. I tell my students all the time — I’ll give you my time, my help, and my heart. But don’t take what isn’t yours.”

Her emotional explanation quickly split the internet.

“It’s Just a Toy” vs. “It’s Still Theft”

On X (formerly Twitter), the debate raged under hashtags like #HelloKittyGate and #TeacherRespect.Critics accused Seals of overreacting, suggesting the incident could have been handled “in-house” rather than involving law enforcement.

“Calling the cops over a toy? What lesson is that teaching?” one user wrote.“Imagine traumatizing a kid over a doll,” another added.

But supporters fired back, pointing out that theft is theft, regardless of the item’s size or perceived triviality.

“Y’all don’t respect teachers at all,” one parent posted. “If someone stole something off your desk at work, you’d call HR or security too.”

Others highlighted how incidents like this reflect the larger disrespect educators face in underfunded, high-pressure school environments — where personal property, classroom supplies, and even teachers’ emotional well-being are constantly at risk.

The Bigger Picture: Burnout and Boundaries

Seals’s situation has struck a nerve in a country where teacher burnout is at an all-time high. According to a 2025 National Education Association survey, 59% of educators say they’ve considered leaving the profession due to stress, low pay, and lack of respect.

From viral TikToks of teachers buying their own supplies to stories of physical altercations in classrooms, the profession has become a battlefield of high emotional labor and little protection.

“Teachers are humans,” Seals said in her follow-up TikTok. “We deserve safe spaces just like anyone else. I shouldn’t feel bad for standing up for myself.”

Why This Story Matters

At first glance, this might sound like a silly internet squabble over a pink collectible. But beneath the memes and comments is a deeper question about how much teachers are expected to tolerate — and how little society values their boundaries.

A $300 toy may seem trivial. But in a classroom where educators often give everything, that missing Funko Pop became a symbol of something bigger: the shrinking line between care and exploitation in America’s schools.

And as Seals herself put it: