Temple university student suspended after antisemitic message sparks outrage at Philadelphia bar
Shreeaa Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | May 05, 2025, 20:07 IST
( Image credit : AP )
In a shocking turn of events, a bar in Philadelphia found itself in the spotlight after an antisemitic sign was displayed, igniting outrage among the community. The establishment, Barstool Sansom Street, took swift action by terminating the employees responsible. Meanwhile, Temple University responded by suspending a student linked to the incident and initiating a thorough investigation.
A deeply troubling incident at a Philadelphia bar has led to the suspension of at least one Temple University student and widespread condemnation from the community. The controversy began on Saturday night when an antisemitic sign appeared during a bottle service order at Barstool Sansom Street, a popular sports bar owned by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
According to Portnoy, a customer requested bottle service along with a sign that displayed the offensive message “F**k the Jews.” Outraged by the incident, Portnoy took to social media Sunday to express his anger and launch an immediate internal investigation.
“This made me furious,” Portnoy said in a video post. “We don’t tolerate hate of any kind.” He identified two male customers as responsible for the request and confirmed that two employees involved in delivering the sign were immediately terminated.
Barstool Sansom Street also issued a statement on social media, saying, “The employees complied with a customer’s request for a sign in connection with ordering bottle service. We take all forms of discrimination incredibly seriously and are particularly upset by actions taken against our Jewish patrons, colleagues, partners, and friends.”
Temple University President John Fry responded to the incident in a letter to the campus community on Sunday, calling it “deeply disturbing.” Without explicitly naming the bar or the nature of the sign, Fry confirmed that the university had placed one student on interim suspension and launched a formal investigation.
“In the strongest terms possible, let me be clear: antisemitism is abhorrent,” Fry wrote. “It has no place at Temple, and acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university.”
CNN has reached out to Temple University for further comment.
Portnoy, who is Jewish, later posted a second video, revealing he had spoken with the two men and their families. Rather than pushing for legal consequences, he decided to take what he described as a more constructive approach: he is personally funding a trip for the two young men to visit Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration camp in Poland.
“These are young, drunk kids who made a horrible decision,” Portnoy said. “But do you really want to ruin someone’s life over this? I’d rather turn this into a teaching moment.”
He called the Auschwitz visit “a fair outcome of this event,” hoping it would instill a deeper understanding of the horrors of antisemitism and the Holocaust.
The incident comes at a time of heightened scrutiny surrounding antisemitism on American college campuses. In March, Temple University was among 60 institutions that received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education, announcing an investigation into their handling of alleged antisemitic discrimination and harassment. The department warned schools of potential consequences if they fail to adequately protect Jewish students.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of Philadelphia also responded, stating it is actively investigating the case and has contacted law enforcement.
“ADL Philadelphia is aware of the offensive and hateful message that was displayed inside Barstool,” the organization said Sunday. “We have also alerted law enforcement. Antisemitic slurs and statements have no place in our city.”
As the investigation continues, the episode has sparked broader conversations about accountability, education, and the role of institutions in confronting hate speech. While emotions run high, Portnoy’s decision to turn a moment of hate into an opportunity for education offers a potential path toward understanding in an increasingly polarized environment.
What are your thoughts on how universities and businesses should respond to hate incidents like this?
According to Portnoy, a customer requested bottle service along with a sign that displayed the offensive message “F**k the Jews.” Outraged by the incident, Portnoy took to social media Sunday to express his anger and launch an immediate internal investigation.
“This made me furious,” Portnoy said in a video post. “We don’t tolerate hate of any kind.” He identified two male customers as responsible for the request and confirmed that two employees involved in delivering the sign were immediately terminated.
Barstool Sansom Street also issued a statement on social media, saying, “The employees complied with a customer’s request for a sign in connection with ordering bottle service. We take all forms of discrimination incredibly seriously and are particularly upset by actions taken against our Jewish patrons, colleagues, partners, and friends.”
Temple University President John Fry responded to the incident in a letter to the campus community on Sunday, calling it “deeply disturbing.” Without explicitly naming the bar or the nature of the sign, Fry confirmed that the university had placed one student on interim suspension and launched a formal investigation.
“In the strongest terms possible, let me be clear: antisemitism is abhorrent,” Fry wrote. “It has no place at Temple, and acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university.”
CNN has reached out to Temple University for further comment.
Portnoy, who is Jewish, later posted a second video, revealing he had spoken with the two men and their families. Rather than pushing for legal consequences, he decided to take what he described as a more constructive approach: he is personally funding a trip for the two young men to visit Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration camp in Poland.
“These are young, drunk kids who made a horrible decision,” Portnoy said. “But do you really want to ruin someone’s life over this? I’d rather turn this into a teaching moment.”
He called the Auschwitz visit “a fair outcome of this event,” hoping it would instill a deeper understanding of the horrors of antisemitism and the Holocaust.
The incident comes at a time of heightened scrutiny surrounding antisemitism on American college campuses. In March, Temple University was among 60 institutions that received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education, announcing an investigation into their handling of alleged antisemitic discrimination and harassment. The department warned schools of potential consequences if they fail to adequately protect Jewish students.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of Philadelphia also responded, stating it is actively investigating the case and has contacted law enforcement.
“ADL Philadelphia is aware of the offensive and hateful message that was displayed inside Barstool,” the organization said Sunday. “We have also alerted law enforcement. Antisemitic slurs and statements have no place in our city.”
As the investigation continues, the episode has sparked broader conversations about accountability, education, and the role of institutions in confronting hate speech. While emotions run high, Portnoy’s decision to turn a moment of hate into an opportunity for education offers a potential path toward understanding in an increasingly polarized environment.
What are your thoughts on how universities and businesses should respond to hate incidents like this?