Mohamed Hadid, a luxury real estate developer and father to models Bella and Gigi, has sent Rep. Ritchie Torres numerous racist and homophobic messages over several months, according to a Saturday report from the New York Post.
The targeting allegedly began after Torres vocally defended Israel following Hamas's horrific massacre on October 7.
“You worse than the rats of New York sewage system. They have bigger brains than you. You might get a job as bouncer at gay bar,” Hadid, told Torres in an Instagram direct message sent from his verified account.
“Make sure you dress as KKK to hide that ugly gray colored face of yours." Hadid continued, continuing to say that "You are just unusual Black and colorful mouth for Israeli and AIPAC and looking for payday of over 500K.”
Hadid continues to attack Torres on standing with Israel
Mohamed's daughters, Bella and Gigi, have previously made multiple comments targeting Israel throughout the years. A few weeks following the October 7 Hamas attacks, Bella targeted Israel, saying that Israel has been creating "generational trauma" for Palestinians like herself.
Richie Torres has consistently backed Israel, particularly amidst the rise of antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the US.
Torres visited Israel earlier this month and spoke with the Jerusalem Post about his ongoing support to Israel amid tensions between Israel and the US Democratic administration.
“What we are witnessing is not a change in American policy, but a clash of personalities,” he told The Post at the time
On his trip to Israel, Torres visited the Gaza Strip border communities and the Nova festival massacre site.
The New York Democratic congressman explained to The Post, this “is natural in every relationship.” The crisis between the US and Israel is “more perception than reality.”
Later on Saturday Mohamed Hadid published a post on instagram apologizing to Richie Torres. He said, "I need to apologize. Not for the anger I feel but for the words I used to express that anger. I intended to express how Mr. Torres is a shill being used by Israel. A state that not only mistreats black and brown people but pinkwashes their atrocities using their projected gay rights as a shielf for their human rights violations."
He continued, "My feeling after 76 years of being a refugee from the country where I and my ancestors were born and watching a genocide unfold are at an all time high. I am watching United States politicians work as AIPAC messengers of genocide. I used the wrong words to express this anger but the anger is warranted."
He concluded in his post, "To send black and brown and other marginalized communities to do the dirty work of two countries who have never respected them is wrong. I apologize to my community for directing the conversation to this. And even for a minute away from Palestine. All eyes on Palestine. Free Palestine."
Torres will address The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York on June 3.