A Pennsylvanian man who launched a tirade of verbal abuse and racial slurs against a group of anti-fracking activists has gained YouTube fame and lost his job after a video of the incident went viral.
The man shamelessly spouted his views to a camera, targeting the black videographer, Tom Jefferson, calling him a “nigger” and a “chimp” and making monkey sounds.
The video posted on December 27 now has over 420,000 views.
Activists were protesting against Rex Energy, which has been drilling for gas near schools, according to PINAC.
The perpetrator, who has been identified as John Pisone, placed his hands in front of the camera lens at one point and said “get your camera out of my face, asshole,” even though it was he who had approached the group.
He also told Jefferson he was only the tenth black person he had ever seen in his life.
“They all look the same to me,” he said.
He then shook his head in disgust and walked off, but not before telling another activist with a young child to teach her “good morals.”
Pisone has since lost his job. His former employer, MMC Land Management, posted the following statement on facebook.
Pisone has now apologized for his actions and told Channel 11 News that he’s turned to a church for guidance.
He said he was angry about the anti-drilling protest because the industry is bringing money and jobs to the area.
“I went racial on him, him being black. I thought this was going to cut deep. I don't know what the hell I was thinking,” he said. “I won't ever do this again.”
Pisone says he has received death threats since the video went public and has been forced to close his social media accounts.