Dealer Owner Resigns After Antisemitic Slur
Porsche dealership co-owner in Florida quits following antisemitic text message sent to a customer, alleges media.
A Florida business owner is stepping down from his luxury car dealership after making an offensive, antisemitic comment to a customer.
The Incident:Naveen Maraj, co-owner of Champion Motorsports/Champion Porsche in Pompano Beach, was accused of sending an antisemitic text to a potential customer. Following the customer's intent to purchase elsewhere, Maraj allegedly referred to him in a derogatory and offensive manner[1][2][4].
The Comment:Maraj's text message reportedly referred to the customer as a "spoiled Jew c---" and stated that his decision not to buy from the dealership was like a blessing from God[4].
The Response:Champion Motorsports' General Manager, Mike Peters, expressed the dealership's commitment to respect, professionalism, and integrity. Citing this incident, he emphasized the importance of upholding these values[1][4]. As a result, Maraj has resigned from his managerial and leadership roles at the company[4][5].
The Community's Outcry:The antisemitic remark sparked outrage in the community and beyond. The incident was first reported by BocaNewsNow.com, which shared a screenshot of the offensive text message[1].
United against antisemitism, StopAntiSemitism called the incident "a shocking display of antisemitism" and urged clients to take their business elsewhere[4]. However, the recipient of the message, John Wolff, refuted claims that he and Maraj had a long-standing friendship. They reportedly had not spoken for over six years[5].
ADL Involvement:At the time of writing, the Anti-Defamation League has not released a public statement regarding the incident[1]. Nevertheless, they have a history of monitoring similar incidents of antisemitism in various contexts[1].
The business community and finance sector are expressing concerns over the impact of the recent antisemitic remark on the local economy, as the Florida luxury car dealership, Champion Motorsports, faces potential loss of customers due to the incident. The owner's resignation, following the antisemitic comment made to a customer, may affect the dealership's finance and overall business operations.
