He Went Viral For Mocking A Jewish Child’s Hair — But Will Be Remembered For His Heartfelt Apology

Left to right: Forward Deputy Opinion Editor Laura E. Adkins, Yonkers resident Quai James, Crown Heights resident Mordechai Lightstone, Forward columnist Ben Faulding, Forward Opinion Editor Batya Ungar-Sargon. Image by Jeff Boxer
On Friday May 4, Yonkers resident Quai James posted a short video making fun of a Hasidic child’s haircut, filmed in a Hasidic community in Brooklyn. The film quickly went viral, and Jewish community members were outraged. Soon after, James issued a heartfelt video apology — and stopped by the Forward’s offices the next week to discuss the video and the aftermath with the Forward’s Laura E. Adkins, Crown Heights resident Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone, and Forward columnist Ben Faulding.