A mental health nurse in New York City has been fired after a video of her harassing a group of Israeli tourists in bustling Times Square went viral online. In the video, the nurse can be seen confronting the men – who were simply sitting with their luggage, chanting incendiary phrases including “child killers” and “terrorists”, blaming them for the violence in Gaza.At one point, a street performer dressed as Spider-Man intervened and urged the woman to stop her aggressive behavior: “You don’t have to harass people – you don’t know anything about them,” he told her. However, she continued her tirade, even directing her anger at the dressed-up bystanders.The Instagram spree that ended her careerNurse Jennifer Konings shared the clips on her Instagram account, where she has a large following.
In her posts, she directed obscenities at the group, repeatedly accusing them of killing children and saying, “We don’t want you here.”
Within hours of the video going viral on platforms like Instagram and X, public outrage and widespread backlash escalated online, with many calling for consequences for her behavior.The employer takes quick actionIn response to the uproar, Inspire Mental Health Services, the Manhattan-based clinic where Konings worked, terminated her employment. Her profile was quickly removed from the company’s website, and she later confirmed her firing in follow-up social posts.Public records and previous media reports indicate that Konings has a history of anti-Israel political activism, including controversial statements in the past that have drawn criticism.
