The ongoing Israel-Palestine war has divided the world into two sides. For each side, their view is the right one. As a result, there are crimes committed by both religious groups towards the other, even in the countries that aren’t involved in the war.
Not to mention that both groups tend to minimize the other side’s suffering. One such incident has popped up again, this time involving an alleged Indian American couple, Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta.
But what have they done?
Trigger Warning: The article contains antisemitic comments. Readers’ discretion is advised.
Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta are an alleged Indian American couple who were recorded on November 9, 2023, concealing the posters of missing Israelis with signs condemning Israel. Shailja called the alleged Jewish man recording them an “uneducated pr*ck” and referred to all Jews as “r*pists.”
Why Are Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta Going Viral Online?
Alleged Indian American couple Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta are going viral on social media for all the wrong reasons. Twitter/ X user @MrAndyNgo shared a video of the couple on November 10, 2023.
They were concealing posters of missing/ kidnapped Israeli citizens with tape and various signs saying, “Israel is an apartheid state and commits genocide” and “OCCUPIERS FACE CONSEQUENCES,” among other things.
The incident was recorded on November 9, 2023, in Manhattan’s Upper West Side at 68th St. and Riverside Boulevard. They also tell the alleged Jewish man recording the incident to go back to his country, Israel.
The man responds that he is an American, and the woman, Shailja, says she is also American. He then goes on to say that their actions imply that they don’t want his country- Israel, to exist.
Shailja retorts by saying that they don’t want her country to exist- Palestine. When he says that he doesn’t know of Palestine, she angrily calls him an “uneducated prick.”
She also goes on to state that Jewish people were “r*pists” and that her papers have been published proving that. The 2-minute clip has drawn the ire of the internet, and at the time of writing, the tweet has been viewed 6.5 million times.
Who Are Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta?
As per Kurush Mistry’s official LinkedIn account, he worked as Freepoint Commodities’ oil analyst for nine years. Mistry was fired after a recording of the clip showing his antisemitism surfaced.
As per West Fair Online, Freepoint Commodities has issued a statement saying:
“Freepoint is committed to fostering a culture of mutual respect and tolerance. We welcome the diversity of views and opinions our employees hold, but Freepoint does not tolerate discrimination and hate speech directed against any group. We are aware of the recent antisemitic incident reported on social media, and the individual involved is no longer associated with Freepoint.”
He has also worked with companies like Lehman Brothers, Barclays Capital, and Morgan Stanley Capital International after graduating in 2003 from IIM (Indian Institute of Management) Ahmedabad.
Before that, he studied at the University of Madras and completed his bachelor’s degree in commerce there. So, Mistry is well-educated and certified by India’s Institute of Chartered Accountants.
His Instagram account has been set to private, and his LinkedIn is also unavailable. As per Shailja Gupta’s official LinkedIn account, she has worked as a filmmaker, visual artist, and tech strategic consultant for 29 years.
As a filmmaker, she has been part of commercially successful Bollywood films like Singham Returns, Ra. One, and Chennai Express, amongst others.
Gupta is also an entrepreneur who founded Pocket Box Office, which enables AI avatar-based storytelling and provides merchandising memorabilia and vinyl toys.
The ongoing Middle East conflict has brought to light many such incidences of antisemitism. Recently, USC student and PA Rachel Birney was allegedly caught tearing down posters of missing Israeli citizens.
Brooklyn teacher Olivia Lynch and University student Lucia Mendoza were recorded allegedly doing the same.
The couple has yet to respond to the controversy publicly. What do you think of the rising cases of antisemitism?
Let us know your views in the comments below.
Source: West Fair Online
