A financial executive was fired from his position after video footage emerged on social media of him going on a racist tirade and hurling a smoothie at an employee.
James Iannazzo, 48, who had worked as a financial adviser with Merrill Lynch since 1995, was let go from his position on Sunday, the company confirmed to the New York Post. Iannazzo was fired after throwing a smoothie at a teenager at a Connecticut Robeks and shouting a slew of obscenities at employees.
“Our company does not tolerate behavior of this kind,” a statement from Merrill Lynch said. “We immediately investigated and have taken action. This individual is no longer employed at our firm.”
Iannazzo left the Fairfield Robeks without any incidents around 1:05 p.m., according to a statement from the Fairfield Police Department. He had a smoothie he had ordered for his son, who had a peanut allergy.
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Around 1:39, Iannazzo placed a 911 call after his son had an allergic reaction to the smoothie, according to the statement. Iannazzo returned to the Robeks outlet and can be heard in a video, taken by one of the employees, confronting them and asking them who made the drink, which contained peanuts.
“I want to speak to the f***ing person who made this drink,” Iannazzo said. Upon being informed by the employees that they did not know who made it, he said, “F***ing stupid, f***ing ignorant high school kids.”
Iannazzo then proceeded to call one of the employees a “f***ing b****” while being informed multiple times that he can file a complaint with corporate. “F***ing immigrant loser,” Iannazzo said after throwing the smoothie at the same employee while trying to gain access to the “Employees Only” area.
I’ve identified this man as James Iannazzo of @MerrillLynch being racist and assaulting a minor pic.twitter.com/O8Ic6jyh3p
— Danesh (@thatdaneshguy) January 23, 2022
After leaving the store, Iannazzo later turned himself into the police without any further incidents, according to the statement. He explained that he became angered after his son had an allergic reaction, prompting him to respond the way he did.
Iannazzo was charged with intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree, breach of peace in the second degree, and criminal trespass in the first degree. He is scheduled to appear before the Bridgeport Superior Court on Feb. 7.
“Mr. Iannazzo wholeheartedly regrets the incident that took place at the Fairfield Robeks on January 22, 2022,” Frank Riccio, the attorney for Iannazzo, said in a Facebook statement, adding that he had “placed an order at the Robeks and stressed to the staff that the product must not contain peanuts. His receipt acknowledged that the order should not contain peanut butter. His son has a life-threatening peanut allergy.”
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Riccio confirmed to the Washington Examiner that his client “deeply” regretted “his actions and acted completely out of character.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Merrill Lynch for a statement but did not receive a response.
