TikToker Ambamelia Mistakes Greek Flag for Israel’s, Sparks Outrage After Vandalizing New Jersey Restaurant Property
3 min readTikTok user Ambamelia recently sparked outrage online after mistakenly ripping down a Greek flag, thinking it was an Israeli flag. The incident, which occurred outside Efi’s Gyro restaurant in Montclair, New Jersey, has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. The video shows Ambamelia expressing her anger towards the restaurant, believing they were showing support for Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
In the video, Ambamelia angrily shouts, “Free Palestine, b***h! What are you looking at? You know there’s a genocide? I don’t stand for Zionism in Montclair,” while tearing down the Greek flag. Her actions were motivated by her belief that the restaurant was supporting Israel by flying the flag. However, her tirade quickly backfired when staff members from the restaurant confronted her, explaining that the flag she had vandalized was the Greek flag, not Israel’s.
Upon realizing her mistake, Ambamelia appears embarrassed and responds, “What? Really? Oh, I thought it was Israel’s—my bad.” She then admitted that the two flags looked similar to her, leading to the confusion. The video has since amassed millions of views online, with many users criticizing her for her ignorance and destruction of property.
This Tiktoker, "ambamelia," starts yelling "Free Palestine!" and tears town what she believes are Israeli flags.
Turns out this is a Greek gyro restaurant in New Jersey, and those are Greek flags. 🇬🇷
When the owners tell her, she says, "Oh s***, my bad." 🤡
Listen 🔈👇 pic.twitter.com/kwWQmtRG2f— MAGA Marie 🦅🇺🇸 (@galacticaactual) October 17, 2024Advertisement
Restaurant Owner Responds to the Incident
Efi Mihalis, the owner of Efi’s Gyro, confirmed that the incident took place on March 11, 2024, despite the video only recently gaining widespread attention. She also clarified that the flag vandalism was not staged, as some online users speculated. Mihalis stated, “It was not a skit as some people believe. This was not planned nor was it calculated in any way. The young woman destroyed my property.” She went on to reveal that the police had been contacted following the incident, though it remains unclear what actions were taken against Ambamelia.
In response to the controversy, the restaurant has decided not to display any flags outside its establishment moving forward. Mihalis also expressed shock at the behavior, noting that those present at the time were equally taken aback by the situation.
In a bizarre incident that has taken social media by storm, a TikToker’s attempt at political activism went very wrong outside of a New Jersey restaurant.
— Denn Dunham (@DennD68) October 17, 2024
The obviously illiterate, racist woman, who is known online as “Ambamelia,” targeted a Greek eatery in Montclair, mistaking… pic.twitter.com/KBRDS2luHM
Backlash and Online Reaction
Social media users were quick to criticize Ambamelia for her actions, with many calling for her to apologize and replace the damaged flags. One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “She owes them new flags and an apology,” while another added, “Her desire for 20 seconds of fame backfired on her—she’s infamous now.” Many others pointed out the ignorance displayed in the situation, emphasizing that it is never acceptable to destroy someone else’s property, regardless of the cause.
Several users also mentioned the possibility of legal consequences for the TikToker, with one person stating, “I hope they sue her stupid a*s.” Others expressed frustration at the rise in incidents involving vandalism related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, calling for more responsible behavior during such sensitive times.
As of now, Ambamelia has not publicly responded to the backlash, and it remains unclear if she faces legal action for the property damage. However, the viral video continues to circulate, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of misguided actions driven by political outrage.
She owes them new flags and an apology!
— Lady Knight Rose🌹 (@gailsline) October 17, 2024
Her desire for her 20 seconds of fame kinda backfired on the ignorant woman. Instead of famous, she's infamous. Someone should explain the difference to her.
— CommonSenseIsn'tCommonAnymore (@DCFanFirst) October 17, 2024
She needs to replace them. The owner/employee was WAY too nice and calm.
— Lee (@alvannick) October 17, 2024
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