A former Obama administration official claimed he’s not “an Islamophobic guy” despite a video showing him berating a halal food cart vendor.in New York City.
The video of Stuart Seldowtiz went viral, costing the one-time national security adviser under former President Barack Obama his current job and prompting a sort of apology from the 64-year-old.
Video clips shared in an online post showed what appeared to be Seldowitz harassing the cart vendor on different occasions, calling the unidentified man a “terrorist,” and the Muslim prophet Mohammed a “rapist,” while threatening him.
“The Mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents,” Seldowitz said at one point in the video which was purportedly shot at 83rd Street and 2nd Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
“Does your father like his fingernails? They will take them out one by one,” continued the former diplomat who worked in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs from 1999 to 2003.
The vendor could be heard trying to get Seldowiitz to leave but the man only said, “Did you rape your daughter like Mohammed did? Did you rape your daughter like Mohammed?”
-The police in Egypt will get your parents. Does your father like his fingernails? They’ll take them out one by one
-Did you rape your daughter like Mohammed? Your prophet was a rapist
-You don’t speak English? That shows how ignorant you are
-The Koran? People use it as a toilet https://t.co/ThmrOJD4lb— Ethar El-Katatney (@etharkamal) November 21, 2023
A post shared online asked for help in identifying the harassing customer who reportedly turned out to be Seldowitz.
“The bottom line is, yes it’s me,” Seldowitz confirmed to The Daily Beast.
this man is continuing to berate and harass the halal cart vendor. He ends the video with “if we killed 4,000 palestinian kids? It wasn’t enough”. pic.twitter.com/yhu4HSvIEZ
— Layla 🪬 (@itslaylas) November 21, 2023
Lobbying firm Gotham Government Relations cut ties with Seldowitz after the video came out.
“Gotham Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz, an individual who hasn’t contributed to our work in years,” the company said in a statement posted to X. “The video of his actions is vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm.”
Gotham Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz, an individual who hasn’t contributed to our work in years.
The video of his actions is vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm.
— Gotham Government Relations (@GothamGovt) November 21, 2023
“By the way, I’ll represent the food vendor pro bono if he wants to bring a lawsuit against Stuart Seldowitz,” David Schwartz, the founder and president of Gotham Government Relations, said. “I’m absolutely outraged by this video.”
“On Tuesday, Seldowitz told The Daily Beast that the footage only shows one side of the story, and that the vendor touched things off by expressing his support for Hamas. He said he proceeded to question the vendor about his stance, saying he thought ‘there should be some comment back to someone who is endorsing terrorism and the killing of innocent civilians,'” according to the Daily Beast.
“I regret the whole thing happened and I’m sorry,” Seldowitz told City & State Tuesday. “But you know, in the heat of the moment, I said things that probably I shouldn’t have said.”
“I did have an argument with a food vendor. It is quite possible that it’s me. I mean, I’ve not seen the video, but I believe it’s probably me,” he added
“If I had to do it all over again, I would not have raised the religious aspect,” Seldowitz said. “I don’t think I’m an Islamophobic guy. I’ve spoken up for equal treatment of Muslims on numerous occasions with numerous different people.”
