Minneapolis couple hurl abuse at Somali family who were house shopping in their neighborhood – but DENY they are racist
A Minneapolis couple insisted they are not racists after they were caught on video berating a Somali family who were house shopping in their neighborhood.
Brian and Jen Wagner got into a verbal argument with a Somali family in the Minnesota suburb of Shakopee this week.
The family claimed that while they were walking around the neighborhood, they were suddenly called out, and in the video, Brian Wagner told them, “No one wants you here.”
“Not a single person here wants you,” he added in the footage. ‘I can smell you from here.’
The Wagner family’s lawyer claimed the video did not show the Somali family making “racist slurs” at Wagner before the video was shot, and said the reaction on social media “lacked critical context.”
In the footage, Brian also appears to reference ongoing fraud investigations in Minnesota linked to the Somali community, asking the question: ‘Where did you get the money for the house?’ ‘All you do is steal.’
A woman who filmed the hostile encounter later hit back: ‘Worry about your own money. You’re sad as hell.’
‘Oh my God, get a petition or something. Why are you so worried? Why are you under so much pressure? “Nobody bothered you guys, you decided to get into people’s business,” he said.
After the footage spread on social media and sparked outrage from Minnesota politicians, the Wagner family, through their lawyers, said the video was taken out of context and insisted they were not racist.
Minneapolis couple Brian and Jen Wagner insisted they are not racists after they were filmed berating a Somali family who were house shopping in their neighborhood.
The couple sparked outrage after viral footage claimed they were confronted by the Somali family, but they said the video was taken out of context ‘to create a false narrative’.
Seidlich Law, who represents the couple, said in a statement that the video was “weaponized to create a false narrative that would negatively characterize the Wagner family as ‘racist.'”
“This incomplete video is being used to coordinate a cyberbullying campaign against an honest, patriotic, kind and hard-working family,” the law firm said.
The family’s lawyer said they ‘categorically reject’ any insinuation that they had racially targeted the Somali family and accused the film maker of ‘playing the victim’.
“This is a situation where a provocateur took advantage of political tensions to play the victim rather than the primary aggressor,” the statement said.
‘Firstly, the clip does not contain language or racial slurs directed at Mr Wagner, which are too inappropriate to be mentioned in a public statement. ‘The clip circulating is devoid of critical context.’
‘The Wagners do not exhibit racist attitudes, personally or professionally. In fact, the Wagners exemplify proud Americans who believe in the dignity and equal worth of every human being, regardless of background.’
Following the viral video, the firm said it was exploring ‘taking full legal action against those involved in these acts’ as the situation led to ‘unfair bullying, harassment and other torts’.
“We have also contacted law enforcement, including the Department of Justice, to pursue possible criminal charges,” the firm said.
In the footage, Brian said: ‘Nobody wants you here. ‘Not a single person here wants you’
The Wagner family’s lawyer claimed the ‘incomplete video’ unfairly painted them in a bad light and led to a ‘cyberbullying campaign against an honest, patriotic, kind and hard-working family’. Pictured: Brian Wagner
Democratic lawmaker Brad Tabke, who sparked reactions in Minneapolis after the images spread on social media, quickly defended the Somali family.
He told Fox9: ‘I don’t understand why this guy goes to all this trouble to harass people just because he’s Somali. This is the product of irresponsible leaders dehumanizing a group of people because of the way they look or the way they speak.
‘It makes me angry that this viral video is the first time some people have heard of Shakopee, and I want to say that it does not represent our town.
‘Our town is diverse and full of good, hard-working Minnesotans who don’t care about your background; We’re all neighbors.’
Congresswoman Angie Craig also weighed in on the debate, writing about X: ‘This is extremely disappointing.
I have no doubt that this is a direct result of the Trump Administration’s hateful rhetoric towards the Somali community. That’s not who we are as Minnesotans; People from all backgrounds are welcome here.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Wagners’ attorney and the White House for comment.
