Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Samoa Observer is headlining a story that allegedly shows an assault of a teenage girl in American Samoa that was taken down from Facebook after it drew attention online and raised concerns about violence against children within families.

According to the Observer, the footage appeared to show a young girl being physically assaulted by a woman identified by people sharing the video as her stepmother.

The report continues saying:

Other girls, believed to be the teenage girl’s stepsisters, also appeared to take part in the assault.

The girl was seen being punched and having her hair pulled in the footage. The video is no longer available on Facebook.

A family member, confirmed to the Samoa Observer that the matter had been reported to police.

He declined to provide further details while the investigation was ongoing.

The identities of those shown in the video and the circumstances surrounding the incident had not been independently verified.

Carolanne Toetu’u, a radio presenter, said she was deeply affected by what she saw.

“When I watched that video, my heart completely broke but as a stepmother, it filled me with outrage and disgust,” said Toetu’u.

She said being a step-parent meant accepting the children who came into the family and treating them with the same care and respect.

“When you choose to marry someone who has children, you are not just marrying a partner, you are opening your arms to their entire world,” said Toetu’u.

“You cannot say I love you to your spouse while turning a cold heart towards their tamariki.”

Toetu’u said she could not imagine allowing violence against children in her own family.

“I could never in a million years lay a hand on them in anger, nor could I ever imagine allowing anyone else to harm them,” she said.

She also rejected violence against children as part of Pacific culture.

“But beating a child, ganging up on a young girl and letting anger control us to the point of violence, that is not our Pacific culture.”

“That is a breakdown of our Pacific values and we have to put a stop to it.”

Her comments came as concerns continued to be raised about violence against children and within families.

In March 2026, the Samoa Victim Support Group said more than 30 teenage girls were under its care, including victims of child abuse and sexual abuse, as well as girls who had been abandoned by their parents or families.

In August 2020, the Samoa Observer reported on a viral video showing a young man being beaten by a group of people.

Former Police Commissioner Fuiavaili’ili Egon Keil urged people not to share violent footage and said it should instead be provided to police as evidence.

Attempts made by the Samoa Observer to reach the American Samoa Police for comment were unsuccessful.