We examine the background and religion of Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta, who have the become the subject of controversy, after their antisemitic remarks went viral
Indian couple Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta faced severe backlash on social media, particularly X, when footage of their antisemitic actions went viral. The video captured the duo concealing posters of kidnapped Israelis in Manhattan, replacing them with signs that proclaimed, “OCCUPIERS FACE CONSEQUENCES.”
Who are Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta as Indian couple make antisemitic comments in viral video and what is their religion
Irony is, this guy Kurush mistry is a persian, his forefathers came as refugees to India because their country was occupied by the same religion he is supporting now.
— No Context Politics 🦁 (@AndColorPockeT) November 11, 2023
Update: I've been able to identify the two people racially harassing a Jewish man in NYC and covering up photos of civilians kidnapped by Hamas with "OCCUPIERS FACE CONSEQUENCES" signs. They are husband and wife Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta. The two Indian nationals told the… pic.twitter.com/OGn6Upce0d
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) November 10, 2023
Why Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta are facing backlash?
It is inferred that the incident unfolded against the backdrop of the ongoing Middle East conflict. On November 10, @MrAndyNgo accused Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta who are Hindus by religion of hiding posters featuring kidnapped Israeli civilians. They purportedly placed a poster above the ones depicting kidnappings, asserting that Israel practices apartheid and commits genocide.
In the video, the couple instructs a Jewish man, who is recording them, to go back to his country. Upon the man admitting his limited knowledge about Palestine, Shailja verbally attacks him, labeling him as uneducated and making derogatory comments about Jewish individuals. As of now, the two-minute video has amassed nearly two million views.
How netizens reacted to the actions of the New York residents Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta?
Kurush Mistry, currently serving as an oil analyst at Freepoint Commodities, boasts a professional background encompassing positions at Morgan Stanley Capital International, Barclays Capital, and Lehman Brothers. He completed his studies at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad in 2003 and is a certified member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in India. Notably, he completed his graduation in Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Madras.
Shailja Gupta, a visual artist and emerging tech strategic consultant, brings a 29-year career in creative and marketing roles to her credit. She is the founder of Pocket Box Office, specializing in vinyl toy manufacturing and AI avatars based storytelling. Gupta has received accolades, including the Wharton Social Media Leadership Award and the Zee Awards’ recognition for the Best use of digital media. She served as the marketing head for several Bollywood films, such as Ra. One, Chennai Express, and Singham Returns.
The couple’s antisemitic remarks triggered a strong reaction from netizens, with many calling for their deportation and job termination. Nevertheless, this occurrence is not a singular event; individuals like Karl Saad from Pace University and Rachel Birney from USC have also come under scrutiny for removing posters depicting kidnapped Israelis. It is established that Kurush Mistry and Shailja Gupta reside in New York.