[dropcap size=big]K[/dropcap]eller Williams realtor Liz Vaughn Avila has taken down a video about living in Highland Park made with the L.A.-based comedy group, Safety Patrol, after posting it yesterday on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.
The skit features Safety Patrol member Jeremy Culhane walking around Figueroa Street with statements such as “Highland Park [is] the best neighborhood in all of Los Angeles and I’m here to show you why you should move here today.” Along with other ones like, “Don’t even get me started with the locals...they are so nice.”
Highland Park is one of the epicenters of gentrification in the city of Los Angeles. As well as being the home of anti-gentrification activists such as @DefendNELA (who first posted the video on their account), NELA Alliance, and Mando Medina, who runs the account Instagram account, @Highland_Park_Nela. Over the course of the last month, there were also incidents of hate-based graffiti on businesses such as Donut Friend and Hippo, as well as demonstrations against Council Member Gil Cedillo for accusing him of staying silent throughout the recent wave of gentrification.
Unsurprisingly, the old-school residents of the neighborhood quickly noticed Avila’s video and had their say. Including the neighborhood account @TheNewYorkBlvd, who reposted the video with the caption “Ms. @lizvavila thinks this place is a joke. Just like the rest of the real estate agents. Not funny fuckers.” The vitriolic comments from the account’s followers poured in and quickly escalated to threats and hate speech, Avila informs L.A. Taco. Prompting her to immediately remove the post on all of her social media platforms. Her statement reads as follows.
First and foremost, I apologize if I offended anyone, that was never my intention, and I have removed the video from all my social media platforms.
The video was created as a tongue in cheek comedy sketch making fun of realtors.
I have received messages containing hate speech and threats of violence from followers of the #defendnela group.
L.A. Taco has reached out to Safety Patrol for comment.
