Who Is Jonathan Spanos? Racist Video Sparks University Resignation

A Pennsylvania college board member has resigned from his role after a video of him saying racial slurs went viral.

The man in the video was Jonathan Spanos, who held a position on the Pennsylvania State York Advisory Board at the time.

Alongside his role at the college, Spanos is the owner of The Paddock on Market, an American seafood restaurant on Market Street in York, Pennsylvania.

Why Happened in the Viral Video of Jonathan Spanos?

On November 10, a video was posted on X, formerly Twitter, of repeatedly saying to another man, "half n***** brother" and "half brother n*****," in a confrontation that appeared to take place on a residential road.

In another shot on camera, Spanos is seen speaking with the same man, with a woman, and can be heard saying, "I am a racist, you're right, I hate trash."

"You popped me the fingers, you're wrong, shame on you," he added.

The user that posted the video, @YorkPaRacist, wrote, "This is Jonathan Spanos owner of the Paddock on Market in York, PA. Advisory Board member for Penn State York. Gets in a road rage incident, commits assault and then starts yelling the N word out in public. What a despicable person."

Since it was posted four days ago, it has accumulated more than 61,000 views on the social media platform.

How Has The College Reacted?

Spanos was a college board member at Pennsylvania State York and had been a member since 2012.

Reacting to the incident, the college's X account posted on the platform, "This hateful language has no place in our community and is not reflective of the University's values or our desire to foster an inclusive environment. The appropriate offices at Penn State have been notified and we are looking into this matter with urgency."

On November 11, the social justice advocacy organization NAACP York Branch called for his "immediate resignation", adding, "The individual in question should resign from all leadership positions, including the Penn State York Advisory Council and any business associations, to uphold the integrity of these institutions."

The next day, on November 12, the Pennsylvania college commented on the post shared by @YorkPaRacist to say, "Jonathan Spanos is no longer a member of the Penn State York Advisory Board."

Spanos has since publicly apologized for his remarks, speaking on Wednesday morning at Springettsbury Municipal Complex, according to the York Dispatch.

In a statement, obtained by ABC 27, his apology read, "I was wrong for not walking away from that volatile situation. I was wrong for responding in anger with hateful language. I was wrong for using a racist term that has caused great trauma in our country. I was also wrong to state sarcastically in the video that I am a racist."

He added, "I have always aspired to be a person who is known for spreading grace and gratitude. I will ask God to continue to search my heart to uncover offensive ways and words within me. My prayer is that God can use this painful situation to change me and somehow use it for the greater good of our community."

His apology reportedly came following a meeting he had with the heads of the Black Ministers Association, NAACP of York County, and the Confronting Racism Coalition.

Newsweek has contacted Penn State York and NAACP via email for comment.

Penn State students play frisbee in front of Old Main on campus in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal on November 11, 2011, in State College, Pennsylvania. A board member of Penn State college... Mario Tama/Getty Images

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