The Army has issued a statement condemning a reported soldier making a Holocaust joke in a since-deleted TikTok video.
Paul Szoldra, editor-in-chief of military website Task and Purpose, posted the video to Twitter on August 31. Szoldra identifies the person in the video as 2nd Lt. Nathan Freihofer. Freihofer, who has 2.9 million followers on TikTok, says in the video, “Reason one million why I’ll never be verified: dark jokes!”
He then tells the joke: “What’s a Jewish person’s favorite Pokemon character? Ash.” Ash is a reference to Pokemon protagonist Ash Ketchum and also an apparent Holocaust reference.
Freihofer concludes the video, brushing off anyone taking offense at the joke. “If you get offended, get the f— out because it’s a joke,” Freihofer said. “Don’t be a p—-.”
https://twitter.com/PaulSzoldra/status/1300460657800744960?s=20
The XVIII Airborne Corps announced in a tweet that it is reviewing the matter.
“We are investigating reports of a Soldier assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps allegedly making vile remarks on a social media video,” the tweet read. “The statement made in the video is completely inconsistent with our values. We will review all facts and take appropriate action.”
We are investigating reports of a Soldier assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps allegedly making vile remarks on a social media video. The statement made in the video is completely inconsistent with our values. We will review all facts and take appropriate action.
— XVIII Airborne Corps (@18airbornecorps) August 31, 2020
The Airborne Corps then followed up with a screenshot of tweets from Major General Antonio Aguto, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, announcing Freihofer has been suspended.
“The statements made in the video are not indicative of the values we live by, and there is no place for racism and bigotry in our Army or our country,” Aguto wrote. “An investigation has been initiated into this matter and the Soldier has been suspended effective immediately, pending the results of the investigation.”
Here is an update from Major General Antonio Aguto, Commander of 3rd ID, to our earlier tweet regarding an offensive social media post. We demand EVERYONE within our formation represents the values of the Profession of Arms and lives in concert with our incredible legacy. pic.twitter.com/xhlQHo8k0x
— XVIII Airborne Corps (@18airbornecorps) August 31, 2020
The American Jewish Committee tweeted, “Lt. Nathan Freihofer’s ‘joke’ is not only offensive, it dishonors the memory of hundreds of thousands of American soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against Nazi tyranny. He should apologize now.”
The Jewish group also praised the army for suspending and investigating Freihofer in a subsequent tweet. “This is what a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism looks like,” the tweet read.
Lt. Nathan Freihofer's " joke" is not only offensive, it dishonors the memory of hundreds of thousands of American soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against Nazi tyranny.
He should apologize now. https://t.co/0n2LnCxXv5
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) August 31, 2020
Thank you, @18airbornecorps, for suspending Lt. Nathan Freihofer from his leadership duties and launching an investigation following his extremely offensive “joke” about the Holocaust.
This is what a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism looks like. https://t.co/403r2XBeNy
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) September 1, 2020
The Auschwitz Memorial Museum noted in a tweet that Freihofer had written as a caption for his since-deleted video, “For legal reasons this is a joke.”
“What about moral reasons & respect?” the museum tweeted. “Would he look into the eyes of Survivors liberated by @USArmy and tell them this? Nathan, if you see this, take this lesson to learn why you hurt real people & their memory.”
He wrote: 'For legal reasons this is a joke'
What about moral reasons & respect?
Would he look into the eyes of Survivors liberated by @USArmy and tell them this?Nathan, if you see this, take this lesson to learn why you hurt real people & their memory: https://t.co/IGcvJQET2H https://t.co/VPsM2FoOxs pic.twitter.com/bR6qz9BvIR
— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) August 31, 2020
CNN’s Jake Tapper also tweeted, “I admit I don’t understand how anyone, let alone a US military officer, would think it amusing that Jews were mass exterminated during the Holocaust.”
I admit I don’t understand how anyone, let alone a US military officer, would think it amusing that Jews were mass exterminated during the Holocaust. https://t.co/r13tY0tBGl
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 31, 2020
