Wikia

"Okay, Haze, when I'm offended, you know you've really gone too far."
— Paige

“Don't Believe the Hype”
Season 2, Episode 11

Information
Can. Airdate	December 1, 2002
U.S. Airdate	December 23, 2002
Prod. Code	211
Director(s)	Anais Granofsky
Episode Guide
Previous	“Take My Breath Away”
Next	“White Wedding (1)”

"Don't Believe the Hype" is the eleventh episode of Season 2 of the Canadian television series, Degrassi: The Next Generation. It originally aired on December 1, 2002 on CTV Television and on December 23, 2002 on The N. The episode was directed by Anais Granofsky and shares its title with a song of the same name by Public Enemy.

Episode Overview

Hazel decides to avoid telling everyone she is Muslim on "International Day", so when she takes bullying to the extreme towards another Muslim, she gets blamed for ruining her project. Meanwhile, J.T. doesn't want to be the next male Martha Stewart, so he sews and Liberty gets the credit, but Liberty can't take it anymore and honesty gets the best of her.

Main Plot

International Day is hitting Degrassi's 9th graders by storm, especially Hazel who has no clue what to do for a presentation on her heritage. Secretly, Hazel is Muslim, but she doesn't "look Muslim" and is "in the closet," so to speak, about her family history. Another Muslim girl, Fareeza, who wears the headdress, also known as the hijab or head scarf, is bullied by Hazel, but she seems to know Hazel's secret. So, to fix her International Day problem, Hazel pretends to be Jamaican. International Day goes on like a hit until someone vandalizes Fareeza's project, spray-painting "TERRORIST" all over her visual aids and destroying some of the other things. Hazel is one of the first "suspects," as she was one of her bullies. Hazel denies any part in the hate crime, and she is exonerated when it is found out a few 10th graders did it.

Later, Hazel talks to her about the issue and confirms she is Muslim as well and that she was beat up once and called "terrorist." Hazel offers to help her re-do the project. The next morning, Hazel then presents her real International Day family history to the homeroom with no shame or fear.

Sub Plot

Meanwhile, in home economics, J.T. is a born sewer since his mother is a seamstress. J.T. hates the fact of "like mother, like son" But to avoid being made fun of by the guys for being a male version of "Martha Stewart", he gives his excellent sewing to Liberty in exchange for her horrendous sewing. Until one day J.T. sews Liberty a skirt for a school project and their teacher is applauding Liberty and she tells the class that J.T. made it. Mad at first, J.T. is embarrassed about his sewing job and is made fun of by Toby and Sean, until all the girls ask him to make them skirts and offer payments for them. Toby and Sean become jealous.

The title of this episode is named after the song "Don't Believe The Hype" by Public Enemy.
This is one of the few episode which centered on a supporting character (as Hazel hadn't joined the main cast yet). The other one being Ladies' Night, which centered on Anya (who was not a main character at the time), and the other being Careless Whisper, which focused on Marco and Ellie.
This is the first time Hazel told any of her friends and class that she is a Muslim.
This episode was directed by a former Degrassi Junior High/High cast member Anais Granofsky, who portrayed Lucy Fernandez.