Piers Morgan had a heated exchange with Cornell University student Austin Franco Tuesday after Franco stood by his comments saying he would not want to be “working for a Jew” after rejecting an internship last month.
Franco came under fire last month after rejecting New York City startup VryfID co-founders Gabe and Aiden Einhorn for an interview by attacking their religious background.
“Not interested in working for a Jew. Thanks,” Franco reportedly wrote back.
While listening to Franco’s side of the story on his show, “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Morgan was shocked that Franco refused to take back or apologize for his incendiary comment despite him and his parents facing backlash.
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“The problem, Austin, it’s not that you said something immature or stupid or anything like that because, had you then said, ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it. I don’t mean the way it came across,’ but it’s the opposite with you,” Morgan said. “You do mean it.”
“Yes. That is correct,” Franco responded.
“You don’t want to be around any Jewish people. That’s 15 million Jewish people. So, therefore, you are de-facto antisemitic. And that puts you in a different category to teenagers who say dumb stuff and then regret it and apologize. You’ve got no intention of either expressing regret or apologizing. You mean it,” Morgan said.
Franco maintained that he was not antisemitic, pointing out that he had dated Jewish people and insisted that his beliefs came from his past negative experiences with members of the Jewish community at both Cornell University and his previous school, Virginia Tech. Morgan dismissed this argument and lamented his “brazen” attitude toward Jews.
“How have you been so poorly educated? Honestly, what’s happened to your parents here, your family, your friends? And what’s allowed you to develop this mindset where you’re prepared to just come on a camera like this in an interview watched by millions of people and just brazenly say, ‘I don’t want to be anywhere near Jewish people’ and not understand the enormity of what you’re saying and have no sense of remorse, no sense of shame, no sense of guilt? You don’t give a f— do you?” Morgan said.
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Franco went on to attack Israel as a “genocidal country that’s made up of 90% Jews that insist upon killing Palestinians and reporters and dragging America into wars abroad.” He blamed it for motivating his unwillingness to work with Jews. Morgan fired back, arguing that Franco does not similarly object to working with Americans despite opposing the Trump administration’s war with Iran.
“I just find it incredibly depressing that a young man, given the privilege that you’ve had, to go to a top university, could be this thick or, worse, not care about what you’re saying and the consequences to a huge number of people around the world who see a young arrogant kid who wants to brazenly espouse antisemitism in interviews like this,” Morgan said.
“And shame on you, and shame on everyone that has made you like this,” he added. “And you know what? I was prepared to give you a bit of a fairer hearing about the people calling for you to be canceled and unemployable and so on. You’re making yourself unemployable. I wouldn’t employ you.”
After Franco’s comment was first reported, Cornell University released a statement condemning antisemitism and announcing that its Office of Civil Rights had opened an investigation.
However, in undercover footage provided by the conservative watchdog group Accuracy in Media last week, Franco claimed he has not faced any repercussions from the university for his comment beyond being informed.
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“As of now, they said there’s not anything going on on their back end. I think because I didn’t say anything that could be classified as hateful. There wasn’t really a leg they could go on,” Franco said.
In a comment to Fox News Digital, Cornell University pointed to a statement made by the university’s president, Michael I. Kotlikoff, who condemned Franco’s comments but did not elaborate on any further action.
“Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding our students. Despite the seriousness with which we take this matter, we are not able to make any further comment regarding the actions of this student or any public statement of the university’s response,” Kotlikoff’s statement said.
Franco also revealed Wednesday that, after his recent appearance on Morgan’s show, his parents informed him that they would be kicking him out of their home.
“I will be kicked out of my home on August 1,” he said. “Any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated, as would any advice. I have reiterated that my parents do not share my views, and it seems they no longer wish to provide me with a home to live in.
“I know the road ahead will be difficult, but this is the path I chose. I could have lived a more conventional life, as my parents did, and perhaps in a different time I would have. However, that is not the world we live in today, and because of that, I chose a different path than most.
“I do not regret anything I have done. If I were to die today, I would at least know that I did so believing in myself. Thank you, and may God be with you,” Franco wrote on X.
