An anti-Israel influencer is being dubbed an uneducated nitwit by members of her neighborhood after she combined up the Greek and Israeli flags throughout a hateful frenzy outdoors a New Jersey restaurant.
Amber Matthews, 23, filmed herself ripping down an ornamental string of Greek flags she thought have been Israeli at Efi’s Gyro in Montclair in March — and was then arrested on Tuesday after she posted the now-viral video to her social media accounts seven months after the blunder.
“She did make herself appear like one of many dumbest folks on earth. How do you not know the distinction?” Natalie Lee, proprietor of Mikki & Al’s Noshery, a Kosher deli in Montclair, instructed The Put up.
“In case you’re going to make that type of assertion, not less than know your flag. I can’t think about that somebody is that uneducated that they don’t know the distinction. What she did … you made folks believing of their trigger appear like idiots. It clearly was achieved for likes, that’s it.”
The Put up made a number of makes an attempt to contact Matthews.
Matthews, who goes by “Ambamelia” on social media, posted the ludicrous fake pas to TikTok on Oct. 15, which exhibits her screaming, “Take a look at that s–t,” and “I don’t stand for Zionism in Montclair!” — whereas holding a fistful of ripped down Greek flags.
The video, titled “The time I mistakenly thought the flag was for Israel and took the restaurant’s flag down OMG,” has since generated practically 4.5 million views on TikTok, and hundreds of thousands extra on X.
Annoyed residents mentioned they have been shocked by the hostile act of vandalism of their “extraordinarily numerous city,” explaining that an individual can specific their beliefs with out destroying somebody’s property.
“She is on one specific aspect, that’s her opinion. She has a proper to that,” one resident mentioned.
“She shouldn’t be talking for the entire metropolis of Montclair. Tensions are excessive in every single place.”
One other resident known as Matthews “small-minded.”
“That actually exhibits her ignorance and stupidity,” the resident mentioned.
All through the video, Matthews screamed, “Free Palestine, bitch!” at restaurant employees and requested them in the event that they knew there was a “genocide occurring” and that “they’re killing youngsters” as she eviscerated the Greek flags.
Two employees members ultimately got here out of the eatery, wanting confused and embarrassed for the hysterical hater — with one gently declaring that the white and blue flags characterize Greece, not the Jewish state, in line with the footage.
“What? Actually? Oh, I assumed it was Israel — my unhealthy,” she responded.
“Oh s–t … it seemed like Israel.”
The Montclair Police Division investigated the incident again in March however had no leads till Matthews posted her video of the encounter from her viewpoint final week, police mentioned in a information launch.
She was arrested and charged with bias intimidation and harassment.
“Montclair is a neighborhood that strives to deal with all people with dignity and respect,” Police Chief Todd Conforti mentioned.
“I hope this investigation sends a transparent message that our company won’t tolerate any type of Harassment or Discrimination, and offenders will likely be held accountable for his or her actions.”
Matthews is scheduled to seem at Superior Courtroom in Newark on Dec. 3, police mentioned.
