UPDATE: Middletown superintendent William George III told the Asbury Park Press on Friday that the teacher has withdrawn his resignation, but offered no other details.

MIDDLETOWN — A popular Middletown South High School teacher was reportedly forced to resign after showing his class a viral HBO anti-Trump skit.

Joe Ventre was pushed out following complaints from some parents, the New York Post reported Friday, after he had his class watch the clip from John Oliver’s show, which lampooned the GOP presidential frontrunner and urged viewers to “Make Donald Drumpf Again.”

The move has sparked a backlash from Ventre’s student and parent supporters.

A online petition to #SaveMrVentre had gotten more than 2,362 signatures Friday morning.

“As a student in Mr. Ventre's history class I have learned more about life and history than ever before,” the petition, which was started by a student, says. “He has an extremely positive effect on the lives of students in and out of his classes."

Beth Titus, who signed the petition, said the “video was a fun teaching tool and it's a shame it's being seen as pushing a political agenda.”

“Nobody should be fired presenting a student a different opinion than they may receive at home,” Jacob Dean added.

Parents and students protested the move at a school board meeting earlier this week. School officials declined to comment on a personnel matter and Ventre did not immediately return a call for comment Friday morning.

Records show that Ventre is a registered Republican in Monmouth County.

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Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-438-1015 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.