BROOKINGS, Ore. The Brookings-Harbor School District confirmed that High School Principal Tristin Harkins has resigned following a wave of controversy surrounding statements made by his wife, Amber, on social media. Amber is also referred to as Amberlei in TikTok commentary that has circulated widely.

On September 13, Amber posted comments congratulating the shooter of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, questioning whether he would be “teaching classes.” The district said those views did not align with its values. Two days later, on September 15, the Brookings-Harbor School Board held an emergency meeting citing safety concerns, and on September 17, Tristin Harkins officially stepped down from his role as principal.

The district emphasized that while Amber’s comments caused “enormous disruption and anxiety” in the community, the board’s authority only extends to employees and students. Family members are outside its direct oversight. Officials reaffirmed their commitment to the safety of students and staff and condemned any glorification of violence.

Law enforcement was contacted after threatening messages were reportedly directed at school leadership. The district said it continues to monitor the situation closely in coordination with authorities.

While official statements focused solely on Amber’s remarks about Charlie Kirk, viral TikTok videos have taken the controversy in a different direction.

A TikTok creator known as @saltytattooedmama posted videos alleging that Amber maintained an OnlyFans account, and that some of its content had been circulated among high school students. In one video, the creator said she contacted the Brookings Police Department, who she claimed were “more than willing to talk” and had opened an investigation. However, law enforcement has not publicly confirmed the existence of an investigation connected to OnlyFans, nor confirmed any details about such allegations.

Amber herself addressed the issue in a TikTok clip, saying she had previously been targeted in similar situations. “So I wanna tell you all a story in one that you’ve heard before,” she said. “Recently, I had some teenage boys post a picture of me saying that I have an OnlyFans, which is cool. What I wanted to add to that, though, is, like, y’all brought a f****** knife to a gunfight.”

She went on to compare the situation in Brookings to a prior experience at another school district, where she said things escalated even further. “At the last school district that I dealt with this, not only with their actual naked pictures, but I was literally blackmailed,” Amber said. She also referenced legal fallout from that earlier case, telling her followers, “There was a lawsuit. Y’all need to step your game up.”

Amber described how quickly rumors spread among local teenagers, saying, “All these boys, they tattle on each other in, like, 10 minutes. It wasn’t even fun. Try harder.”

The remarks drew a sharp response online, with many pointing out that Amber appeared to acknowledge explicit material connected to her had reached underage students in the past.

Multiple TikTok commenters have claimed that Amber’s alleged OnlyFans account has since disappeared. In addition, Amber’s own TikTok account, where she previously addressed the situation, also appears to have been deactivated. At this time, however, there is no official confirmation that such an account existed or that explicit material was shared with students.

@saltytattooedmomma @Saltytattooedmomma #CharlieKirk #TurningPoint #Amberlei #TristinHarkins #BHHS ♬ original sound - Saltytattooedmomma

The incident has sparked a larger conversation in Brookings about social media, public figures, and accountability when family members of school employees make highly visible and controversial statements online.

For now, the district remains focused on restoring stability after the resignation of Principal Harkins. Whether further developments emerge regarding the online allegations remains to be seen.

@saltytattooedmomma 🚨 Police confirm Amber Harkins is under investigation #Amberlei #BHHS #ProtectOurKids #Accountability #STM ♬ original sound - Saltytattooedmomma

Message from the Superintendent

In response to recent community events; Information about accessing tonight’s School Board Meeting

Brookings-Harbor School District is aware of concerns raised regarding a personal statement made by a District employee’s family member. These individual views do not represent the District, its values, or its operations. The District is also very limited in the actions it can take regarding individuals who are not employed by the District.

On Monday, September 15, the School Board held an emergency meeting and entered executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(o) to consider urgent matters related to the safety of the governing body, staff, and volunteers, as well as the security of public facilities. This action was taken in response to both the disturbing commentary circulating in the community and some messages directed toward the District and school leadership that included threatening language. The District has been, and will continue to be, in communication with law enforcement regarding these matters.

My foremost responsibility remains supporting our students and families. Today, I also want to share with our Bruin community that I have received the resignation of the Brookings-Harbor High School Principal Tristin Harkins.

I also want to apologize that we cannot respond to every email, phone call, or social media message individually or on the day it is received. The volume of messages has been extremely high, and some inquiries involve information we cannot disclose due to confidentiality and privacy laws. Please know that all messages are being read, documented, and catalogued, and that the District will respond to what it can, when it is able.

We ask our entire school community to continue to work together to maintain a safe and respectful learning environment and to handle concerns outside of our school buildings in a civil and constructive manner. I want to commend our teachers and staff for their diligence in teaching, learning, and school activities, which have gone on uninterrupted.

Tonight, Wednesday, September 17, the School Board will hold its Regular Board Meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Kalmiopsis Elementary School, 650 Easy Street, in Room 51. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. to allow visitors time to walk to the board room in the 5th grade hall. Overflow rooms with a livestream will be available in the same building, if the board room reaches capacity. The Brookings Police Department will also be present to help maintain order and safety.

As part of the agenda, the Board will hold its public comment period. Comments will follow established rules and will be limited in time by the Board Chair depending on the number of comment cards received at the start of the meeting. All community members are welcome, and we remind you that you do not need to attend in person to follow the proceedings. All BHSD School Board Meetings are livestreamed and archived for encore viewing on the BHSD YouTube page. The full agenda and public comment rules are posted on our School Board Information page.

Thank you for your support as we continue focusing on providing our students with the safest, most supportive, and positive start to the school year possible.

Helena Chirinian
Superintendent

Disclaimer: This article reports on public statements, social media commentary, and official district actions. Allegations regarding online accounts remain unverified. Neither the Brookings-Harbor School District nor law enforcement have issued confirmation of the OnlyFans claims at this time.