Black Boy Using iPhone Called a 'Thief'? White Woman Falsely Accuses Black Boy at Hotel

[Image source= Kion Herald Instagram capture][Image source= Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunyoung Choi] A video showing a white woman in a hotel in New York suddenly accusing a Black boy of being a 'phone thief' and using violence against him has been released on social media.

According to foreign media including The Washington Post on the 28th (local time), jazz trumpet player Kion Harold (40) was staying with his 14-year-old son at a boutique hotel in the Soho area of Manhattan, New York, on the 26th.

That morning, the two were leaving their hotel room to have brunch when they were harassed. Suddenly, a white woman approached Harold's son and demanded to see his phone.

Afterward, the woman claimed that Harold's son had stolen her phone and asked the hotel manager for help.

Harold's son responded, "This is my phone," but the woman stubbornly got angry and shouted for him to show his smartphone.

Harold retorted, "Do you think there is only one iPhone in this world?" but the hotel manager also sided with the woman, saying, "Please show the phone."

As the two were about to leave, the woman attacked Harold, scratching him and using violence. Harold posted a video of the incident on his Instagram on the 27th.

The woman's phone was later found in an Uber car. Facing criticism, the hotel issued a statement on the 28th apologizing, saying, "It was an unfounded accusation, prejudice, and attack against an innocent customer."

In an interview with The New York Times, Harold said, "I suspect this white woman accused me and my son of being thieves based on racial prejudice."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.