A financial adviser at Merrill Lynch was fired Sunday after a viral video showed him hurling expletives, and later a smoothie, at the employees of a Connecticut smoothie shop.
After purchasing a smoothie, which he gave to his son, James Iannazzo returned fuming and demanded “to speak to the f—ing person” who had made the drink. When one employee insisted that they didn’t know which of the four employees had made the drink, Iannazzo called her a “stupid f—ing immigrant,” according to footage uploaded to TikTok by one of the employees. The video is no longer public on the user’s page, but it has since been posted to Twitter.
WATCH:
I’ve identified this man as James Iannazzo of @MerrillLynch being racist and assaulting a minor pic.twitter.com/O8Ic6jyh3p
— Danesh (@thatdaneshguy) January 23, 2022
Iannazzo hurled his drink at a female employee before calling her an “f—ing immigrant loser,” video shows. He then moved to the back of the store and attempted to push into the “Employees Only” area, but was blocked by an employee leaning against the door, according to the footage. (RELATED: ‘We’re Being Persecuted’: ASU Students Alleged Racism, Sexism After School Found Them ‘Guilty’ Of Harassing Peers)
Earlier that day, Iannazzo purchased a smoothie at 1:05 p.m. Just over thirty minutes later, he called 911 for EMS support for his son who was suffering a severe allergic reaction, according to the Fairfield Police Department.
Iannazzo’s son has a severe allergy to peanut butter, which Iannazzo insists he told the employees of the smoothie shop, according to a statement from his lawyer. Employees of the smoothie shop told police that Iannazzo only asked for no peanut butter and did not mention the allergy, according to the Fairfield Police Department.
“When faced with a dire situation for his son, Mr. Iannazzo’s parental instinct kicked in and he acted out of anger and fear. He is not a racist individual and deeply regrets his statements and actions during a moment of extreme emotional stress,” his lawyer’s statement reads.
Statement regarding James Iannazzo: pic.twitter.com/VvOKkD96FM
— Frank J. Riccio II (@RiccioLaw) January 23, 2022
Merrill Lynch confirmed the termination of Iannazzo’s employment with the company Sunday, according to Newsweek.
“Our company does not tolerate behavior of this kind. We immediately investigated and have taken action. This individual is no longer employed at our firm,” a Merrill Lynch spokesperson told Newsweek.
Iannazzo was charged with first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias and second-degree breach of peace, according to the Fairfield Police Department.