‘A lot of it is not me’: woman caught making racist remarks apologizes

Editor’s note: Video found through the below link contains foul language and is not suitable for all audiences.

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – A Cranbrook woman is apologizing after a video of her racist tirade at a Denny’s restaurant in Lethbridge went viral.

In the video taken last month, Kelly Pohcha turns toward a group in the booth beside hers and yells at them to go back to their country. She also accuses them of not paying taxes like other Canadians, and makes graphic remarks about their ethnicity.

“I do apologize for everything that I said, because a lot of it is not me. I don’t normally say things like that. I don’t talk that way,” says Pohcha, who explains she was merely having a bad day.

However, Pocha says it’s not fair that the exchange has gone viral on social media.

“I mean, people get into arguements every day. People say things every day, it doesn’t get splattered on Facebook and go nation-wide… I don’t agree with the whole thing. I think it’s just gotten blown way out of proportion. Especially when you’re only seeing one side of the story, you’re not seeing the whole thing.”

The video was posted to Facebook Monday night, and has since been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.

Tuesday afternoon, a post on the Cranbrook Dodge Facebook page confirmed the woman was one of their employees, and that she has since been fired.

“We are deeply concerned about the content of this video and want all of our friends, families, colleagues, and customers to know that this behaviour does not reflect the values of Cranbrook Dodge in any way,” the post reads. “We strive to be a welcoming and inclusive company with no room for hate or intolerance.”

Target of abuse says Denny’s staff kicked him out first

Monir Omerzai, who posted the video, says he and his friends first noticed the woman glaring at them and saying the men were giving her weird looks. Then the angry words began.

He says Denny’s staff moved the woman to another table and apologized to her. Later, when police showed up, he says everyone involved was asked to leave.

“We got kicked out first, and the food was ready for us there too. And the manager at Denny’s told us basically, ‘you know what, you can just pack your food and pay for it and leave,'” he says.

The Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council says it’s appalled by the video and has reached out to the group involved.

Lethbridge police say they’re looking into the matter.