Far-right extremist Ethan Schmidt became the target of online mockery after he punched and stomped on a Pride apparel sign inside a Target and called it "devil worship" after a customer called him out.
Schmidt later confirmed the video was his after it went viral on r/PublicFreakout, a subreddit "dedicated to people freaking out, melting down, losing their cool, or being weird in public" and was posted to Twitter.
He can be seen punching the sign before removing it, putting it on the floor, and stomping on it.
A customer called Schmidt out, asking, "What's wrong with you?" before Schmidt proceeded to repeat several times that the sign was an icon of "devil worship."
You can see what happened in the video below.
\u201cEthan Schmidt Destroys Targets Pride Propaganda\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
In a message on Telegram, Schmidt confirmed the video was his but said it had been filmed a couple of years ago.
The video itself is nothing new for Schmidt, who has previously made videos of himself knocking down Pride displays in other retail stores, including Barnes and Noble.
Many were quick to mock Schmidt for his homophobic outburst.
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan Love how he is doing the Strut yet he\u2019d probably get knocked out in one punch from my gramma. Waste of oxygen\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan What a clown. Total loser\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan Yeah man, you gently tap that terrifying cardboard rainbow. Big man!\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan This Ethan Schmidt person is so obsessed with gay sex, what are the chances that his browser history is full of gay porn?\n\n97%?\n98%?\n99%?\n100%?\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan All I see is a triggered, insecure snowflake walking around looking for his mommy's skirt, to hide from the big bad world.\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan He should just come out already\u2026 it\u2019s not healthy to repress your own feelings that much, as you can see.\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan That's someone that needs to be put under the jail. Total moron.\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
\u201c@EthanSchmidtFan He is only out for attention and views.. he is so insignificant\u201d— ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS (@ETHAN SCHMIDT - FINALLY INFAMOUS) 1676204684
Schmidt is a well known homophobe in right-wing circles.
Last year, the LGBTQ+ community expressed fear and concern after he released a video in which he threatened to "hunt" down LGBTQ+ allies during Pride Month festivities.
In his video, Schmidt, who is shown riding in a vehicle alongside the self-described “authoritarian Christian nationalist" Kyle Clifton, said he planned on “exposing” the “Satanic Pride shrines for children” and would target LGBTQ+-supportive employees at Target retail stores.
The video garnered significant social media attention after it was posted by PatriotTakes, an account dedicated to tracking far-right movements.
It also prompted Target to acknowledge the threat and the company said via its corporate account that it was working with its corporate security team in addition to its partners to ensure its staff's safety.
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