Pennsylvania’s second lady, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, on Sunday tweeted that she had been the victim of a racist attack while shopping at her local grocery store and shared a video of a woman calling her a racial slur through the window of her car.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Fetterman, 38, said that she was normally accompanied by state troopers whenever she leaves her home, but she decided to go out on her own when she realized that a sale on golden kiwis would be ending soon at her neighborhood Aldi.
She says that the woman who accosted her recognized her as the wife of Pennsylvania’s Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) which is what apparently led to the racist incident.
“*TRIGGER WARNING* I love love love this country but we are so deeply divided,” Gisele Fetterman tweeted Sunday. “I ran to the local grocery store and was met by and verbally assaulted by this woman who repeatedly told me I do not belong here. The confrontation continued into the parking lot where I was able to finally capture it after the crying winded down. This behavior and this hatred is taught. If you know her, if she is your neighbor or relative, please, please teach her love instead.”
She told The Washington Post that she was accustomed to harassment, but that she was taken aback by how bold the woman was.
“The fact that she was so comfortable and bold to just do it to my face with an audience … that was really scary,” she said.
She attributes the hatred she says she has received to her status as a formerly undocumented immigrant. Fetterman and her family moved to the U.S. when she was a child, fleeing violence in Rio de Janeiro.
“We were saddened to hear about the incident that occurred with Pennsylvania’s Second Lady, Gisele Barreto Fetterman. We are appalled by the behavior of the offending customer and she is no longer welcome to shop at ALDI,” the grocery chain said in a statement.
“To be clear, that customer’s actions do not represent ALDI or anyone associated with our company. We are reaching out to the Second Lady today to reiterate our stance, and ensure she feels safe and welcome in our stores anytime.”
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey (D) showed his support for Fetterman, tweeting “As she said: ‘this hatred is taught.’ It’s on us to teach our children kindness, acceptance and inclusion, and condemn hate whenever and wherever we see it.”
—Updated at 3:39 p.m.