Jonathan Spanos, a former member of the Penn State York Advisory Board, has publicly apologized for a racist rant that was captured on video and posted online. The video, which quickly went viral, shows Spanos using racial slurs and declaring himself a racist during what he described as a "heated family confrontation." Following the incident, Spanos resigned from his position on the advisory board.
The video was posted on social media last weekend and has since been viewed over 60,000 times. In the video, Spanos, who is also the owner of the Paddock Restaurant, is seen using the N-word multiple times and stating, "I am a racist." The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with local civil rights groups and Penn State York officials denouncing Spanos' behavior.
In a press conference held on Wednesday, Spanos expressed his remorse for his actions. "I am humiliated and embarrassed by my behavior," he said, according to York Daily Record. "The community that I have served for over 25 years, the state and government, people human deserve better from me."
Spanos was joined at the press conference by members of the NAACP, the Black Ministers Association, and the Confronting Racism Coalition. Despite his apology, local NAACP officials emphasized that Spanos' actions were a stark reminder that "all is not well" in the community.
Penn State York confirmed Spanos' resignation in a series of replies to the original video. "This hateful language has no place in our community and is not reflective of the University’s values or our desire to foster an inclusive environment," the school's official account wrote, as reported by Inside Higher Ed.