A Minneapolis-area couple has denied being racist after a video surfaced that appeared to show them confronting a Somali family who were looking at homes in their neighborhood.
Brian and Jen Wagner became involved in a tense verbal exchange with the family this week in Shakopee, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The family said they were approached without provocation while touring the area. In the video, Brian Wagner is heard telling them: “Nobody wants you here.”
“Not a single person here wants you,” he continued, according to the footage. “I can smell you from here.”
An attorney for the Wagners has since argued that the clip circulating online does not capture what allegedly happened beforehand, claiming the Somali family had directed “racial slurs” at Wagner before filming began. The lawyer also said the backlash on social media “lacks critical context.”
During the confrontation, Brian also appeared to allude to ongoing fraud investigations in Minnesota that have been linked to members of the Somali community, asking: “Where’d you get your money for the house? All you do is steal.”
The woman recording the encounter responded sharply, saying: “Worry about your own money. You’re sad as f***.”
“Oh my god get a petition or something. Why are you guys so worried? Why are you so oppressed? Nobody bothered you guys, you guys decide to be in people’s business,” she added.
After the footage circulated across social media and sparked backlash from Minnesota politicians, the Wagners said through their attorney that the video was taken out of context and insisted they were not racist.
Minneapolis couple Brian and Jen Wagner have insisted they are not racist after being caught on video appearing to berate a Somali family who were house shopping in their neighborhood
The couple sparked backlash after viral footage showed them allegedly confronting the Somali family, but they say the video was taken out of context ‘to create a false narrative’
Seidlich Law, which represents the couple, said in a statement that the video was being ‘weaponized’ to ‘create a false narrative to negatively characterize the Wagner family as “racist.”‘
‘This incomplete video is being used to coordinate a cyberbullying campaign against an honest, patriotic, kind, and hard-working family,’ the law firm said.
The family’s attorney said they ‘categorically deny’ any implications that they were racially targeting the Somali family, and accused the person filming of ‘playing the victim.’
EXCLUSIVE: Billionaire Couple Bobby and Carola Jain Spark Debate With Communism for Landlords Push
‘This is a situation where a provocateur is capitalizing on political tensions to play the victim, rather than the primary aggressor,’ the statement read.
‘First, the clip does not include the statements and racial slurs that were launched at Mr. Wagner that are too inappropriate to be mentioned in a public statement. The circulating clip lacks critical context.’
‘The Wagners do not conduct themselves in a racist manner personally or professionally. In fact, the Wagners are the epitome of proud Americans who believe in the dignity and equal worth of every human being, regardless of background.’
The firm said following the viral video, it was looking into ‘pursuing all legal actions against those involved in these acts’ due to the situation leading to ‘undeserved bullying, harassment, and other tortious acts.’
‘We have also contacted law enforcement to pursue any potential criminal charges, including the Department of Justice,’ the firm said.
In the footage, Brian said: ‘Nobody wants you here. Not a single person here wants you’
The Wagners’ attorney claimed the ‘incomplete video’ was unfairly painting them in a bad light, and led to a ‘cyberbullying campaign against an honest, patriotic, kind, and hard-working family’. Pictured: Brian Wagner
The footage sparked backlash in Minneapolis after it circulated social media, with Democrat lawmaker Brad Tabke quickly defending the Somali family.
He told Fox9: ‘I don’t get why this guy would go out of his way to harass people for simply being Somali. This is the product of irresponsible leaders dehumanizing an entire group of people for the way they look or talk.
‘It pi**es me off that this viral video is the first time some people have heard of Shakopee, and I just want to say that it doesn’t represent our town.
‘Our town is diverse and full of good, hardworking Minnesotans who don’t care what your background is – we’re all neighbors.’
Congresswoman Angie Craig also waded into the controversy, writing on X: ‘This is extremely disappointing.
‘And I have no doubt this is a direct result of the Trump Administration’s hateful rhetoric against the Somali community. This is not who we are as Minnesotans – folks of all backgrounds are welcome here.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Wagners’ attorney and the White House for comment.
1 comment
So, their trying to convince us we didn’t hear what we heard…