Naples – The case of Professor Stefano Addeo, the teacher at the Medi high school in Cicciano (Naples) who made threats to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s daughter via a post on social media, is escalating.
The Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara , declared that Addeo "is definitely at risk of being fired." Meanwhile, the professor, already suspended and with his salary cut, vented, claiming he was being "torn to pieces" and had attempted suicide.
Minister Valditara's tough stance: "Incompatible with teaching"
Speaking on “Cinque minuti” on Rai1, Minister Valditara expressed a clear position: “Obviously, I do not want to get involved in the disciplinary proceedings but I want to say very clearly that those who praise violence or on social media commit acts of contempt towards life and also vulgar actions, unspeakable statements, I believe are incompatible with teaching”. A statement that heralds a hard line by the Ministry.
Addeo's Drama: "There Are Worse Crimes, I Tried Suicide"
For his part, Stefano Addeo gave an interview to 'La Zanzara' on Radio24, in which he described his state of mind after the media storm. "There are crimes worse than the one I committed, they are massacring me, a little while ago outside my house they shouted at me wishing me dead", he declared.
Addeo confirmed that he had been suspended and that his salary had been cut. “I live on that and at home I have a 92-year-old lady who needs assistance, I support her because she has the minimum pension,” he explained, highlighting his personal difficulties.
The professor reiterated that he takes responsibility for what happened and confirmed that he is working with his lawyers to organize a meeting with President Meloni. A disconcerting revelation concerns the genesis of the incriminating post: "I had the artificial intelligence write the post, then I realized that publishing it had been a stupid thing," he admitted.
Regarding the reasons for the gesture, Addeo spoke of a moment of deep turmoil: “It was 9 pm and I had heard on the news that Italy still did not consider Netanyahu an international criminal. I saw the photos of the children and I started crying. I am a sensitive person, I do a lot of volunteer work for children with cancer, I assist the elderly, and I am Catholic.
So at that moment I asked the artificial intelligence to create a bad, nasty post. I published it at 10 pm and I took it down at 7 am realizing the gravity of the thing”.
Finally, Addeo revealed that he attempted suicide: "At first I refused the gastric lavage, then I accepted. In two days I lost 3 kilos, I can't eat". The story continues to raise questions about the management of communication on social media and the consequences, both legal and personal, of statements that go beyond the limit.
I don't understand how a professor can make certain posts without thinking about the consequences. I think there is a great responsibility in their work. I hope that a fair solution is found for everyone, even for those who suffer.