Ivy Leaguer Who Went Viral For Saying He’s ‘not Interested In Working For A Jew’ Claims He’s Still Enrolled At Cornell

A student astatine Cornell University who went viral aft saying he was “not willing successful moving for a Jew” claims he has faced nary disciplinary action from nan Ivy League school, according to a caller report.

Austin Franco, a rising inferior astatine Cornell, made nan remarks successful an question and reply pinch Accuracy successful Media, a blimpish watchdog group that appears to person recorded nan 19-year-old without his knowledge and nether mendacious pretenses.

When asked what action nan New York schoolhouse had taken astir remarks he made successful June to a prospective employer, Franco said that though Cornell and its defense squad had contacted him, he remains enrolled arsenic a student.

“As of now, they said there’s not thing going connected on their backmost end,” Franco said successful nan video, posted to X connected July 22. “I deliberation because I didn’t opportunity thing that could beryllium classified arsenic hateful. There wasn’t really a limb they could spell on.”

The contention began past period aft Franco responded to Gabe Einhorn, CEO of a real property company, and his relative Aiden Einhorn, aft they offered him a summertime internship. “Not willing successful moving for a jew. Thanks,” Franco wrote, according to a station shared online by Gabe Einhorn, and a study from The Cornell Daily Sun.

Gabe Einhorn, who said he is proudly Jewish, told The Cornell Daily Sun he was “taken aback” by nan speech and unsure really to respond.

On June 8, he posted Franco’s eight-word connection to X, writing: “He astir apt knows thing astir Jews [except] for what they show him successful assemblage and connected societal media. Sad world.” The station quickly went viral, drafting much than 2 cardinal views.

In a reply to Einhorn, Franco did not retract his comments aliases apologize.

“My experiences pinch Jews person not been pleasant, some successful personification and online,” nan Ivy League student wrote connected X. “This is not to opportunity I [haven’t] had affirmative experiences, but connected nan aggregate that is not nan case.”

In a connection to The Cornell Daily Sun, nan school’s student newspaper, Franco besides said he identified nan men arsenic Jewish from their “first and past name, LinkedIn, and physiognomy.”

“Cornell University learned of a profoundly disturbing remark by a student connected nan Handshake level successful usurpation of nan online occupation board’s position of service,” nan assemblage said successful a June statement.

“This incident has been referred to nan Cornell Office of Civil Rights for investigation nether assemblage policy,” nan connection continued. “Cornell condemns antisemitism and each forms of hatred and favoritism successful nan strongest imaginable terms. The assemblage is steadfastly committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful situation for each personnel of our community.”

When contacted by The Independent, a assemblage spokesperson referred to nan erstwhile statement, noting it remains “current.”

The Independent has contacted Franco for further remark connected nan caller video.

Elsewhere to Accuracy successful Media — conducted, nan group said, nether nan guise he was speaking pinch a “kindred spirit” — Franco conceded that nan viral remark whitethorn person been ill-advised.

“It mightiness not person been nan smartest point to say,” Franco said, according to nan watchdog group. “But nan guidance was for illustration overwhelming. Not adjacent to what I said.”

He besides based on that he had been polite erstwhile messaging nan Einhorn brothers.

“I mean I thought I was being nice. Saying this is why I don’t want to activity for you,” nan student said, according to Accuracy successful Media. “Most employers are conscionable like, ‘Sorry, we can’t prosecute you.’ They don’t springiness you a reason. At slightest you know, right?”

After nan video was published, Franco said connected X that he’d been duped into speaking, claiming nan group had reached retired nether a different sanction and expressed a willingness to “help pinch life aft assemblage and connection support.”

“[It’s] sad that they were being disingenuous,” he added.

Franco’s communicative appeared to beryllium supported by a July 23 X post by nan Free Expression Foundation, which describes itself arsenic a non-profit dedicated to First Amendment rights.

“Accuracy successful Media, a registered 501c3 nonprofit, impersonated [Justice successful nan Classroom, a societal justness organization] to summation a gathering pinch [Austin Franco], nan instauration wrote. “They surreptitiously recorded nan speech while pretending to beryllium Justice successful nan Classroom.”

“The Free Expression Foundation is pursuing each disposable remedies,” nan statement added.