Stuart Seldowitz, a former political adviser in the Obama administration, faced swift consequences as he was ousted from his position at Gotham Government Relations following the circulation of a video capturing him engaging in an Islamophobic tirade towards a halal cart vendor.
The disturbing footage surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), showing Seldowitz making offensive comments near 83rd and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, as reported by Times Now on Tuesday, November 21.
In the video, Seldowitz questioned the cart operator about his daughter, made derogatory remarks about the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and callously suggested that the deaths of approximately 4,000 Palestinian children during the Israel-Hamas conflict “wasn’t enough.”
Gotham Government Relations confirmed Seldowitz’s identity and promptly announced his termination, denouncing his actions as “vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm.”
Seldowitz, a seasoned diplomat with a history of service in various roles, including as acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate under former President Barack Obama, had been working as the foreign affairs chair at Gotham Government Relations before his termination.
The video’s widespread circulation prompted significant public condemnation, amassing millions of views across various posts identifying Seldowitz and providing background information.
The announcement of his firing by Gotham Government Relations gained traction online, with the original video seeking help to identify him garnering over 2.3 million views.
In the wake of this incident, a recent Siena Research Institute poll highlighted a concerning trend in New York City.
A substantial number of residents perceive increased Islamophobia and antisemitism within Muslim and Jewish communities, respectively, since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.
According to the survey, 62 percent of respondents believe Muslims in the city face Islamophobia, with 60 percent noting an increase since the conflict began.
Additionally, 73 percent expressed concerns about rising antisemitism against Jewish people, with 75 percent believing it has escalated over the same period.
Prominent social media figures, including Zara Magnusson and Ashok Swain, contributed to the dissemination of information about Seldowitz.
Magnusson’s post highlighted Seldowitz’s past advisory role in the Obama White House, while Swain, a professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Sweden’s Uppsala University, emphasized the impact of Islamophobia.