New York Doormen Fired After Not Intervening as Asian American Woman Attacked

Two doormen were fired on April 6 after video showed them failing to help an Asian American woman as she was attacked outside the New York City luxury apartment building where they worked.

Video released to Storyful by The Brodsky Organization, the building’s management company, shows the attack unfolding outside 360 W. 43rd Street in Manhattan on March 29.

The footage shows 65-year-old Vilma Kari being beaten to the ground and kicked while the doormen watch from inside and close the door to the building. The doormen go outside after the attacker leaves the scene.

“While the full lobby video shows that once the assailant had departed, the doormen emerged to assist the victim and flag down an NYPD vehicle, it is clear that required emergency and safety protocols were not followed,” The Brodsky Organization said in an April 6 statement announcing the conclusion of an internal investigation. “For this reason, their employment has been terminated, effective immediately.”

The union that represents the doormen, SEIU 32BJ, said they were appealing the termination. The union said some previous reporting on the story was inaccurate said the doormen had assisted the victim and flagged down police.

Brandon Elliot, a 38-year-old parolee out on supervised release, was arrested on assault and hate crime charges after a public appeal for information. Police said Elliot “made anti-Asian statements” during the attack.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

To watch complete coverage on Bloomberg Quicktake 24/7, visit or watch on Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Fire TV and Android TV on the Bloomberg app.

Have a story to tell? Fill out this survey for a chance to have it featured on Bloomberg Quicktake

Connect with us on…

Breaking News on YouTube