Attorney Aaron Schlossberg has apologised for his racist anti-Spanish rant

A New York-based attorney, who was filmed engaging in a racist rant against Spanish-speaking staff at a café, has made a public apology for his behaviour after facing criticism. Aaron Schlossberg was filmed on May 15 at a Fresh Kitchen in Manhattan, angrily demanding that employees there spoke English to their customers.

In his lengthy tirade, Schlossberg stated: "If they have the balls to come here and live off my money, I pay for their welfare. I pay for their ability to be here. The least they can do ... is speak English." Schlossberg ended his diatribe by threatening to call US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, because he believed that the staff members who had offended him were undocumented illegal immigrants.

On Tuesday, May 22, Schlossberg took to Twitter to apologise for his transgression, stating: "To the people I insulted: I apologise. Seeing myself online opened my eyes - the manner in which I expressed myself is unacceptable and is not the person I am. I see my words and actions hurt people, and for that I am deeply sorry."

He added: "What the video did not convey is the real me. I am not racist. One of the reasons I moved to New York is precisely because of the remarkable diversity offered in this wonderful city. I love this country and this city, in part because of immigrants and the diversity of cultures immigrants bring to this country."

In spite of his apology, there have been severe repercussions for Schlossberg. For example, Corporate Suites, the company which runs the business centre in which Schlossberg's law office is situated, has announced that they will be terminating their prior agreement with him. President Hayim Alan Grant stated: "We found Mr. Schlossberg's statements offensive and contrary to our community norms." In addition, in protest against Schlossberg, a colourful mariachi band has picketed his former office to play music loudly outside.

Other people have now come forward to talk about the racism they have allegedly endured at the hands of Schlossberg. Willie Morris, a tech company consultant, claims that in 2016 he had an encounter with Schlossberg, who shoved him out of the way while he was walking down the street, and called him an "'ugly f*cking foreigner." Isaac Saul, lead editor for the digital media organisation A Plus, has also stated that Schlossberg once angrily yelled at a Hassidic Jewish man at a protest, accusing him of being a "fake Jew," among other things.