Adin Ross has called Democratic representative Eric Swalwell a “sellout” after he criticized Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua for doing a gesture that was seen as antisemitic on his stream.
In a tweet shared on Thursday (Dec. 18), Swalwell called out Nacua for doing the gesture not long after the massacre on Sydney's Bondi Beach. “The Los Angeles Jewish community is on edge after the Bondi Beach massacre,” wrote Swalwell. “And what does this asshole [Puka Nacua] do? He promises an antisemitic touchdown dance for his Thursday night game. He should apologize or be dropped.”
In response, Ross, who is Jewish, called out Swalwell for accepting money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobbying group that has frequently faced criticism for its influence on U.S. politics. “Sellout,” Ross replied alongside a graphic from Track AIPAC that shows Swalwell has received over $170,000 from the lobbying group. “Address innocent lives being killed everyday in Gaza.”
When a fan dropped in Ross’ mentions, telling him to stop getting political, he responded, “It’s called standing up for human rights. Nothing political at all, I have followers of all religions, races. I stand for what’s right.” Ross notably had Trump on his stream last year and gifted him a Tesla Cybertruck, but in October this year, he said that he regrets supporting Trump.
During a stream earlier this week, Nacua joined Ross and N3ON. Ross encouraged Nacua to do a touchdown celebration in which he rubbed his hands together.
The moment was condemned by critics as antisemitic, and Nacua later issued an apology.
“When I appeared the other day on a social media livestream, it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration,” wrote Nacua. “At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people. I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry, or hate of another group of people.”
Ross also addressed the incident and took accountability for the moment.
“To all the people on Twitter going at Puka, I did that,” he said, as seen in the clip below. “I’m Jewish, it’s the same way my Mexican brother here will crack Mexican jokes. I can stereotype and do my own Jewish shit.” He also called out people criticizing him, suggesting they can’t take the moral high ground. “I take a stand for human rights, what’s going on in Gaza, for example,” he said. “You people can’t do that. You’re funded by all these companies, and it’s sad. You’re all sellouts.”
In another clip from his stream, he suggested that anyone targeting him for the moment is “antisemitic.”
“I’m about to go crazy on you guys and prove you guys all wrong,” he said. “This is so antisemitic, you’re picking on the Jewish streamer, one of the only Jewish streamers that claim being Jewish. It’s so wrong to do this to me. To me and my community. You know how many people come up to me? ‘Dude, I’m Jewish, too, bro.’ This is just wrong to do and corner me, how could you?”
During the same stream, he brought up accusations that Swalwell's wife is "a spy" for Israel.