An American social media commentator known for his anti-India rhetoric has ignited a firestorm by posting a call for violence against people of Indian origin and their places of worship. The inflammatory remarks, made by journalist Matt Forney, were later deleted following a massive backlash online, but not before users reported him to authorities like the FBI.
The Ominous "Prediction" and Call for Deportation
In a now-deleted post, Matt Forney offered a disturbing vision for the year 2026. He claimed that anti-Indian sentiment in America would reach a boiling point, leading to targeted violence. His post explicitly stated that Indians would be racially singled out for attacks, India-owned businesses would be vandalized, and Hindu temples would face bombings and mass shootings. He provocatively suggested the perpetrators would not be white Americans but individuals from Black, Latino, or Pakistani communities, aiming to shift media blame away from traditional narratives.
Following this violent imagery, Forney attempted to cloak his rhetoric by claiming he does not promote violence. Instead, he presented a so-called solution. He argued that to prevent the 2026 violence he himself predicted, "every Indian should be deported." He framed this under the acronym "DEI," which he defined as "Deport Every Indian," cynically stating this was for the safety of Indians and peace in America.
Backlash, Removal, and Aftermath
The post quickly triggered widespread condemnation on social media platforms. Users mobilized to tag the FBI and report Forney's account for inciting violence. Under this pressure, Forney removed the original hate speech. However, he subsequently complained about receiving death threats, alleging that Indians were threatening to 'Charlie Kirk' him—a reference to a controversial incident involving the American commentator.
Forney also directed followers to his Nostr account, where the deleted post could still be found, and blamed "Indian mass report squads" for the removal, showing little remorse for the content itself.
Who is Matt Forney and His History of Anti-India Posts?
Matt Forney is a polarizing online figure who frequently targets India and its diaspora in his commentary. He often criticizes the H-1B visa program and has a history of making inflammatory statements. Last month, he claimed he was fired by the media outlet The Blaze due to his social media posts against India and the H-1B visa.
While calls to "deport every Indian" are not new from him, this recent incident marked a significant escalation by graphically invoking racial violence and attacks on religious sites. Previously, he has also targeted individuals like Etsy's incoming CEO Kruti Patel Goyal, calling her unqualified and predicting she would replace American workers with Indians.
The episode highlights the severe impact of hate speech on social media and the ongoing challenges platforms face in moderating content that incites violence against specific ethnic and religious communities.
