POLK COUNTY, Florida — A Polk County mother is demanding an apology after she said her son's elementary school teacher made a birthday gesture that was offensive — rather than celebratory.

Legend Whitaker just turned 6 years old. He attends Floral Avenue Elementary in Bartow, where his class and teacher sang a song. His mother, Desarae Prather, said the lyrics stirred up hurt feelings and anger.

In a video provided to 10 Tampa Bay News, the teacher can be heard singing, "Happy Birthday to you. You live in the zoo, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one too."

“I don't like stuff like that,” Whitaker said, adding that the song hurt his feelings.

Prather said the teacher sent her the video, and she went straight to the school's main office.

“I automatically said, 'There's nothi

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