The video, which at least two accounts have shared, shows a man at the WM Phoenix Open referring to Mexican people and women using derogatory terms.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — >> Editor’s note: This story contains graphic language. Viewer discretion is advised.
A man was caught on camera making violent, racist and hateful remarks at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale.
When the video surfaced on social media, he was quickly fired from his job as users tracked down the brands identified on his clothing. The Scottsdale Police Department also said he “has been trespassed from the tournament.”
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Despiden a hombre que fue grabado haciendo comentarios racistas y sexistas en el WM Phoenix Open
At least two accounts have shared video showing an individual speaking about Mexican people and women using derogatory language. The man in the video was also heard saying “heil Hitler” and calling the people recording a derogatory name for women.
“Oh, Mexicans? You want to know something about Mexicans? You [expletive] [expletive] should be sliced at the throat at the border. We should slice you [expletive] [expletive] at the throat. You wanna know why? Come here, bring the camera. Yeah. Bring the camera in. Bring the camera in,” the man said to the person recording him. “Do you want to know why you [expletive] [expletive] should be sliced at the throat? Listen. Because you guys are [expletive] border hopping [expletive].”
The account that posted the video, @thesquarephoenix, and the person who originally recorded the video both gave 12News permission to use the video. Both individuals told 12News that they’re already receiving threats.
People online quickly identified the logo on his hat as belonging to Vivint, a smart home company. When people in the comments questioned their affiliation to the man, the company responded with the following comment:
“We have identified the individual and terminated his employment. This behavior is abhorrent and in no way reflects the values of our brand.”
12News reached out to Vivint and received the following statement:
“We launched an investigation as soon as we were made aware of the incident, quickly identified the individual, and terminated his employment, which began less than three months ago. This behavior is abhorrent and in no way reflects the values of our brand.”
The WM Phoenix Open provided the following statement to 12News:
“An attendee of the WM Phoenix Open was filmed and posted on social media using hate speech. This is both unacceptable and not representative of our fans, players, and organizers.
The Thunderbirds, WM and the PGA TOUR have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech in any form and have banned the individual from the premises and all future PGA TOUR events.”
The Scottsdale Police Department provided the following statement:
“We were made aware of the video that was posted on a social media site. The WMPO attendee has been trespassed from the tournament.
The statements that he made are his own and his beliefs are NOT shared by the Scottsdale Police Department.
The comments he made from the shared video do not meet the legal threshold or requirements to be a prosecutable criminal violation, as it is protected by the First Amendment.”
The man was also seen wearing a Raven Golf Club-branded shirt. His affiliation with the club is currently unknown.
12News reached to Raven Golf Club, who has not yet responded at the time of publication.
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