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Ed Choi, known as @etchaskej on social media platforms with nearly 800,000 followers, interviewed Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman in a controversial video that sparked debate. The clip criticized Mayor Karen Bass and Chief of Police Jim McDonnell for alleged fascism, although Raman’s campaign clarified the statement was meant to refer specifically to ICE and the Trump administration. Choi previously gained notoriety by fueling online controversies against businesses like Great White restaurant over false discrimination allegations in 2021.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ed Choi, an influencer on TikTok and Instagram with nearly 800,000 followers, interviewed Nithya Raman, a mayoral hopeful in Los Angeles, in a controversial video that aired Monday night. Choi previously gained notoriety for stirring online controversy by targeting the Los Angeles restaurant group Great White after false allegations of racial segregation among Asian customers were circulated last year. These claims sparked significant backlash despite the owners denying any discrimination and clarifying their name's connection to great white sharks. Choi produced over a dozen videos about Great White and its sister restaurant Gran Blanco, with one video reaching 1 million Instagram views, amplifying the false allegations across social media platforms.
Written for “Racially Charged Influencer Controversy” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Ed Choi, who posts as @etchaskej and has amassed nearly 800,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, interviewed the Los Angeles mayoral hopeful in the video that erupted into controversy Monday night.
asserted
that → post → controversy
But Choi was already well versed in whipping up online firestorms.
asserted
Choi → verse → firestorms
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Last year, he repeatedly targeted Los Angeles restaurant group Great White after false allegations surfaced that Asian customers were being segregated.
asserted
customers → sign → White
The claims began with a diner alleging Asian customers were being seated together at its Melrose location, before the restaurant’s name itself became part of the online backlash.
uncertain
name → begin → backlash
Great White’s owners strongly denied discriminating against customers based on race or ethnicity and said the restaurant was named after the great white shark, which features in its branding.
asserted
which → deny → branding
Choi ultimately published more than a dozen videos about Great White and its then-former sister restaurant Gran Blanco, according to the Los Angeles Times, helping propel the allegations across social media.
uncertain
Choi → publish → media
One early video topped 1 million Instagram views.
asserted
video → top → views
As the online backlash exploded and the owners, employees and their families received threatening and harassing messages, Choi publicly condemned the harassment.
asserted
Choi → explode → harassment
His latest controversy erupted after he sat down with Raman, who is challenging Mayor Karen Bass.
asserted
who → erupt → Bass
In the video, Choi says Los Angeles has become “extremely fascist, especially because Karen Bass appointed Jim McDonnell as the chief of police.”
asserted
Bass → say → police
He then asks Raman how she would “de-fascistize” the city.
asserted
she → ask → city
The pair later deliver the line together: “Only you can stop fascist liars.”
asserted
you → deliver → liars
The video also flashes images of Bass and McDonnell before putting a large red X over the LAPD chief’s face.
asserted
video → flash → face
Raman’s campaign said Choi added the images after the interview and that Raman intended the “fascist liars” remark to refer to ICE and the Trump administration.
asserted
remark → say → ICE
The campaign said it removed itself from the post and asked Choi to take the video down.
asserted
it → say → video
Choi, a former stand-up comic and clothing brand co-founder, has said he pivoted toward social-justice content following the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, which left eight people dead, including six Asian women.
asserted
which → stand → women
Choi later jumped into another viral restaurant controversy involving San Francisco’s Kis Cafe, posting a reaction video that amassed more than 3.2 million views and urging followers not to support the business.
asserted
that → jump → business
Kis Cafe later closed after a much broader social-media backlash that began when another influencer posted about an encounter with its chef-owner.
asserted
influencer → close → owner
The restaurant subsequently reopened under a new name and different leadership.
asserted
restaurant → reopen → name
More recently, Choi has turned his considerable online megaphone toward immigration enforcement, promoting detainee fundraisers and anti-ICE causes.
asserted
Choi → turn → fundraisers
He has also claimed two federal agents recently showed up at his home over his online activity involving ICE personnel.
But there is no public confirmation from federal authorities that Choi is under investigation or has been accused of a crime.
asserted
Choi → claim → crime
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