NEW YORK, NY โ RocaNews co-founder Max Towey says he witnessed a disturbing antisemitic incident at a restaurant in New York City, where a man allegedly shouted โf*ck you, Jewโ and threatened to โrid this country of Zionistsโ after being confronted about an anti-Jewish rant. Towey shared details of the incident publicly, saying the episode reflects a broader rise in hostile rhetoric toward Jews in public spaces.
According to Towey, the incident occurred at a nearby table while he was dining. He said a man was speaking loudly about Jewish people and Zionists and referenced political commentators Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens during his remarks. Towey stated that a Jewish woman seated at the same table intervened and challenged the comments.
Towey said the man reacted angrily to the intervention. He alleged that the individual began shouting explicit antisemitic slurs, including โf*ck you, Jew,โ and made statements about removing Zionists from the country. Towey said the woman later shared video footage of the confrontation with him.
โAt the table next to me at a restaurant in NYC tonight, this happened,โ Towey wrote in a public post. โA guy was ranting about Jewish people and Zionists, quoting Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens along the way, and a Jewish girl next to them intervened. He then freaked out and shouted โf*ck you, Jew,โ among other things, like promising to โrid this country of Zionists.โโ
Towey further argued that the language used by the man reflected ideas circulating in mainstream political discourse. โIf you donโt believe Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens are undermining America and targeting Jewish people, you have lost the plot,โ he added.
The incident comes amid heightened concern from Jewish advocacy organizations about a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents across North America since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and Bโnai Brith International have documented rising reports of verbal harassment, threats, and intimidation targeting Jewish individuals in public settings, including restaurants, transit systems, and university campuses.
Experts on antisemitism note that confrontations often escalate when antizionist rhetoric shifts from political speech to personal attacks against Jews. Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, has previously warned that demonization of Zionists frequently functions as a proxy for hostility toward Jews themselves, particularly when accompanied by threats or slurs.
Legal analysts also emphasize that shouting explicit antisemitic insults in public spaces may cross the line from protected speech into criminal harassment, depending on local laws and the circumstances of the incident. New York City classifies certain bias-motivated threats and harassment as hate crimes when specific legal thresholds are met.
Neither Carlson nor Owens has commented publicly on Toweyโs account. Media analysts note that both figures have previously faced criticism from Jewish organizations over remarks that were widely condemned as minimizing antisemitism or amplifying conspiracy theories involving Jewish influence. Both have denied targeting Jews and have defended their commentary as political critique.
Towey did not report whether police were called to the restaurant or whether any formal complaint was filed. He said his decision to share the incident publicly was motivated by concern over what he described as the normalization of antisemitic language in everyday life.
Jewish community leaders stress that public documentation of such incidents plays an important role in understanding patterns of hate. โWhen people speak out about what they experience, it helps establish the scope of the problem,โ said one senior representative of a national Jewish advocacy organization, speaking generally about recent cases of verbal harassment.
The episode has resonated with many Jewish readers and pro-Israel advocates who see similar trends in their own communities, including in Canada. Reports of antisemitic harassment linked to rhetoric about Israel, Zionism, and Jews have increased in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, according to police data and community monitoring groups.
Toweyโs account underscores growing concern that antisemitism is no longer confined to extremist fringes but is appearing in ordinary social settings, often framed as political expression. Community advocates continue to call for clearer public condemnation of antisemitic language, regardless of political orientation.
โF*ck you, Jewโ
— Max Towey (@MaximilianTowey) December 14, 2025
At the table next to me at a restaurant in NYC tonight, this happened. A guy was ranting about Jewish people and Zionists, quoting Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens along the way, and a Jewish girl next to them intervened
He then freaked out (she sent me herโฆ pic.twitter.com/L3NUu02tQK
