Husband Says Mental Illness, Not Racism, Led To Wife's Viral Slap

PHOENIX, AZ — Caught on video, a racist rant featuring a white woman grabbing and berating a customer to "go back to Mexico" ended in a slap to her face. Now, Robert Harrian is on an apology tour for his wife, Tamara, who he claims suffers from mental illness.

The video, which went viral after it was posted Saturday, began in the middle of tense situation at a Shell station in north Phoenix. The man filming the video, Greg Conn, wrote in a Facebook comment that Tamara Harrian entered the store to complain about her gas pump, then claimed to be a manager and finally ordered other customers waiting in line to "leave."

That's when Conn turned on his camera, which caught the moment Harrian told a customer in line, identified as Karina Rodriguez, to go back to Mexico. The two began to argue, and as Rodriguez turned away, Harrian appeared to grab Rodrigue's shoulder — that's when Rodriguez slapped her across the face.

The video, which has been shared more than 20,000 times on Facebook alone, has drawn thousands of comments and comparisons to other racist incidents involving entitlement and abuse directed against minorities.

However, Robert Harrian is now claiming that his wife is not racist. In comments to local media, including Fox 10 and the Arizona Republic, Harrian said that his wife began showing signs of paranoia after a recent break-in and had refused to get help.

"I'm just so sorry that this happened," a tearful Robert Harrian said in remarks to Fox 10, which he addressed to Rodriguez. "You never walked into that store thinking something like this was going to happen. I understand, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what she said. It was very hateful. It was — it's indefensible, but I just have to tell you this. It's her mental illness. A year ago, she would never done — never have even thought of that."

An attorney in Glendale, Harrian has also posted a lengthy statement to his firm's website, acknowledging his wife's "racially offensive" statements and "condemns such behavior."

However, Harrian said his wife had so far refused treatment, making his claim impossible to factcheck on its merits. Paranoia, a type of personality disorder, has a range of symptoms, but it does not include causing racism, according to a summary of the condition posted by the Mayor Clinic. Doctors and researchers have long argued that linking racism and violence to mental health unfairly adds to the stigma already encountered by those with mental health issues — while potentially excusing racists for their actions.