WATCH: Man Apologizes For Viral Video Taunting Hasidic Child

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
The man who filmed himself taunting a young Hasidic boy over his haircut has issued a video apology.
Quai James’ apology came a few days after the original video went viral, with the original clip viewed over 1 million times and copies of it seen at least a million more.
“I recently posted a online a video of me coming at a little kid in regards to his haircut. I just want to sincerely apologize to that young boy and his family. I never meant for anybody to get hurt. It was just a joke. I’m truly sorry,” James stated in Tuesday’s Twitter video.
“I don’t want this to be a race thing. I have nothing against Jewish people. I have friends that are Jewish. My babysitter growing up was Jewish,” he continued.
Good afternoon to everyone watching .. I’m truly sorry for my actions .. @FonrougeGab pic.twitter.com/HaO4cwGaWN
— Quai James (@quaijames) May 8, 2018
The 13-second video, which was posted on Saturday, showed James coming across a toddler in the street, looking sad and wearing a kippah, long sidelocks and a shaved head.
“I’d be crying if I looked like that too bro,” the man said. “That’s f—-ed up what they be doing to y’all.”
“You probably had the full wash and set – they should be fired if they ain’t cut your sh—,” he added. “F—- it though bro, it’s your life.”
The original video was posted on Twitter. After that was deleted, a copy was posted on Facebook.
Contact Haley Cohen at [email protected]
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
