Controversial Co-Owner Faces Fallout | Albany News

A co-owner of Taste of Italy, who sparked national outrage in June with inflammatory anti-Islam remarks—including calling Islam a “fake religion” and “terrorist organization”—has launched a $24K fundraising campaign to save her family and businesses from financial collapse. With only a few hundred dollars raised so far, most accompanied by harsh criticism, the fallout has been severe: her businesses lost 60% of revenue, staff quit en masse, and she’s received death threats even naming her children. Viral videos show heated confrontations with protesters, including one where her husband claims she dumped human waste where demonstrators sat—details still unverified. In a rare moment of contrition, she posted an apology for calling protesters “fat” and “ugly,” vowing to retire from “amateur insult business,” though she continued echoing fears about radical Islam. Compounding the scandal, the couple faces hundreds of thousands in unpaid sales tax warrants and postponed a new restaurant opening. The story is still unfolding, but it’s a whirlwind of controversy, backlash, and desperation. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8562b5aa38599cff