A Cornell University student has been reported to the university's Office of Civil Rights after sending an antisemitic message when rejecting a job offer from a tech startup.
The incident has prompted widespread outrage and a university investigation.
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Austin Franco, a member of the Class of 2028, declined an offer from real estate tech startup VryfID, co-founded by brothers Gabe Einhorn and Aiden Einhorn.
The university responded by emphasizing its disapproval of antisemitism and hate speech, while looking into the matter as a bias complaint.
Gabe Einhorn said he did not plan to pursue further action against the student.
"[With] all these comments [that are] antisemitic, I think the best thing is just to not let it get to you and not respond to it," he said.
Einhorn later thanked host Piers Morgan for confronting Franco during a television appearance and announced plans to create a support network for young Jewish entrepreneurs facing similar hostility.
Following the public backlash, Franco launched a crowdfunding campaign on GiveSendGo that collected approximately $25,000, while claiming his parents forced him to leave home.
During an undercover interaction with an investigator from Accuracy in Media posing as a fellow antisemite, Franco addressed the response to his initial social media post.
"It might not have been the smartest thing to say," he said.
He elaborated on his original intent: "But the reaction was like—overwhelming. Not equal to what I said."
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