Real estate magnate Mohamed Hadid, the father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid, issued an apology on social media after his hateful messages to Congressman Ritchie Torres came to light. In his apology, he admitted that his language towards Torres was inappropriate but continued to criticize the congressman as being “a shill being used by Israel.” Despite the apology, Torres rejected it, calling it fraudulent and accusing Hadid of being a racist at his core. Hadid had previously targeted Torres with bigoted and homophobic messages, calling him derogatory names and belittling his intelligence.
The 75-year-old Hadid had been sending offensive messages to Torres for months, with one message referring to Torres as worse than rats in New York’s sewage system and suggesting he could work as a bouncer at a gay bar. The attacks intensified after Torres openly defended Israel following an attack by Hamas. Hadid’s messages were widely condemned as racist and inappropriate towards the congressman, prompting public outrage. Torres, a progressive Democrat of African and Latino descent, became a target for Hadid’s anger over his support for Israel.
After The Post published a story exposing Hadid’s messages to Torres, the real estate developer issued an apology acknowledging that his choice of words was wrong but insisting that his anger towards Torres was justified. Hadid expressed his frustration at the treatment of black and brown people by Israel and accused American politicians, including Torres, of being messengers for AIPAC in promoting genocide. He expressed his deep emotional response after watching a genocide unfold in Palestine, where he and his ancestors were originally from, for 76 years.
While Hadid expressed regret for the way he directed the conversation towards Torres and away from Palestine, Torres was not convinced of the sincerity of the apology. He continued to criticize Hadid for his racist remarks and dismissed the attempt at reconciliation as disingenuous. The public backlash against Hadid’s messages towards Torres highlighted the importance of accountability and respectful discourse, especially when discussing sensitive political issues. Hadid’s initial offensive comments towards the congressman revealed a deeper prejudice that was condemned by many.
The incident involving Hadid and Torres underscored the challenges of navigating heated political debates and the importance of choosing words carefully to avoid causing harm. The public reaction to Hadid’s messages towards Torres reflected a commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their status or background. The apology issued by Hadid, while acknowledging the inappropriate language used, failed to fully address the underlying issues of bigotry and racism present in his messages. Moving forward, it is imperative for individuals to engage in productive and respectful dialogue, especially on contentious topics such as international conflicts and human rights violations.
