Northeast
Gigi Hadid's father apologizes for racist, homophobic messages to Democratic lawmaker
Mohamed Hadid, father of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid, apologized for several incendiary comments made to New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres on Saturday.
The New York Post reported that the millionaire real estate developer sent Torres multiple direct messages from his verified Instagram account that accused the congressman of being a “slave to whites” over his ongoing support for Israel after the Hamas attack on Oct. 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 wrote.
“Make sure you dress as KKK to hide that ugly gray colored face of yours,” he added. “I know about Bronx.”
The New York Post reported Mohamed Hadid, father of models Gigi and Bella Hadid, sent direct messages to Rep. Torres that attacked him. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victorias Secret)
MODEL GIGI HADID APOLOGIZES, SAYS SHE ‘DID NOT FACT CHECK’ POST ON ISRAEL’S TREATMENT OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN
Another message read, “You are just unusual Black and colorful mouth for Israeli and AIPAC and looking for payday of over 500K.”
Torres, who became one of the first openly gay African American members of Congress in 2021, later commented on the story in an X post on Sunday, criticizing Hadid for slinging “racist rhetoric.”
“For the thought crime of supporting Israel in the wake of October 7th, I have been the target of racist rhetoric from Mohamed Hadid. If you have the audacity to be a person of color AND Pro-Israel, you become fair game for racist hate and harassment,” Torres wrote.
After the story was published, Hadid later released an apology for his words but stood by attacking Torres as a “shill” for defending Israel.
“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 shield for their human rights violations,” Hadid wrote.
Rep. Ritchie Torres. D-N.Y., has defended Israel’s right to defend itself following the Oct. 7 attacks. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“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,” Hadid continued. “I am watching United State politicians work as AIPAC messengers of genocide.”
“I used the wrong words to express this anger but the anger is warranted. 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,” he concluded.
DEM VOWS HE WILL ‘NOT BE INTIMIDATED’ AFTER ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS DEFACE OFFICE WITH BLOODY BABY JESUS DOLL
In a comment to the New York Post, Torres attacked Hadid’s latest comments as insincere and “fraudulent.”
“The so-called apology is as fraudulent as the man himself. Mr. Hadid has been unmasked as a rabid racist to the core, and his pitiful attempt at a ‘mea culpa’ is fooling no one,” Torres said.
Rep. Torres attacked Hadid as a “rabid racist” and blasted his later apology. (Getty Images)
Torres’ office referred to this comment when responding to Fox News Digital.
A few days after the deadly Oct. 7 attack against Israel, Hadid referred to Israeli Prime Minister as “the new Hitler of modern times.”
“This was never about Hamas. This to create the new graveyard to 2.5 million Palestinians .. the new Hitler of modern times,” he wrote under an ABC News post reporting that “Israel cuts off Gaza in ‘total siege.’”
Read the full article from Here
When BDN shines a light, policymakers act. Make a gift to help our reporters keep Maine’s leaders informed. Make a donation now.
This story will be updated.
The Maine Department of Transportation is moving to slash up to $400 million in projects from its agenda, a shocking and abrupt cutback that is rattling the state’s construction industry at the start of building season.
Roughly $50 million across six pavement projects have already been delayed, according to a memo exclusively obtained by the Bangor Daily News. The agency plans to cut or delay another $150 million in bridge, highway, intersection and multimodal projects later this month. A further $200 million or more in cuts are planned in the next three-year work plan.
Those figures were outlined by Transportation Commissioner Dale Doughty in the May 18 memo to Gov. Janet Mills that has since circulated widely in the transportation sector, which has been getting drip-by-drip details on the wide scope of the cuts over the past three weeks.
It comes at the beginning of the state’s relatively narrow construction season. Companies have hired workers and ordered materials for projects they expected to begin this summer. The severity of the transportation budget problems was not raised to lawmakers during the 2026 legislative session.
Kelly Flagg, executive director of the Associated General Contractors of Maine, called the shortfall “deeply troubling” in a statement.
“We stand ready to work with policymakers, stakeholders, and industry partners to identify both immediate and long-term solutions,” Flagg said. “Maine cannot afford to fall further behind.”
Insiders saw this first.
This story was broken in Maine Politics Insider, the BDN’s daily premium newsletter for the most ardent political news followers. If you are a new BDN subscriber, you can sign up here. Current subscribers can contact our customer service team to upgrade.
The cuts stem from a structural funding gap of at least $130 million in the state’s current work plan, according to Doughty’s memo. Losses are magnified because state money from the gas tax and other revenue sources is matched by federal funds. Lawmakers have long grappled with politically difficult long-term problems with the state’s transportation budget.
A Mills spokesperson said Wednesday morning that the administration was working on a response to questions from the BDN. The department says it needs roughly $240 million more in state capital funding annually to maintain the existing system, and that anything less than $200 million will erode it over time.
Doughty’s memo the only near-term solution is a series of bonds beginning as soon as possible. Lawmakers would have to return to Augusta to authorize that if one is going to appear on the November ballot.
BOSTON, MA — An international restaurant group with locations across the globe is preparing to open its first Massachusetts restaurant this year.
LPM Restaurant & Bar, a French Riviera-inspired restaurant founded in London, is set to open on the second floor of the Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street in Back Bay, according to Four Seasons. The hotel lists the restaurant as “Opening Summer 2026,” while the Boston Business Journal reported the restaurant plans to open in September.
The Boston restaurant will mark LPM’s debut in the Northeast and its third U.S. outpost, following locations in Miami and Las Vegas, according to a Four Seasons announcement.
LPM, also known as La Petite Maison, was founded in London in 2007 and is known for French-Mediterranean food, Mediterranean ingredients and dining rooms influenced by Belle Époque design.
The business operates locations in London, Dubai, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Limassol, Doha, Mykonos, Kuwait, Boston, Maldives and Bangkok.
Four Seasons said LPM will take over the space that formerly housed One Dalton’s breakfast concept, One + One. The restaurant will join other dining options at the hotel, including Zuma and Trifecta.
See Also:
-
Cleveland, OH47 seconds agoAll Future Cleveland Cavaliers Draft Picks in 2026, 2027 & Beyond
-
Austin, TX4 minutes agoHighly pathogenic virus found in herd of Texas dairy cows
-
Alabama9 minutes agoIs Tommy Tuberville an Alabama resident? GOP candidate challenges status
-
Alaska16 minutes agoUniversity of Alaska names U.S. Army commander as new UAF chancellor
-
Arizona19 minutes agoDiamondbacks Fans Can Now Vote for Arizona’s All-Stars
-
Arkansas24 minutes agoArkansas DFA Agents seize illegal products in Corning
-
California31 minutes agoCalifornia may take weeks to finalize primary results. ‘This is normal’
-
Colorado34 minutes agoColorado governor vetoes block on surveillance pricing as other states push for bans
