A self-described "progressive" freelance writer reportedly accosted an Asian man who he believed to be journalist Andy Ngo at a bar in New Orleans. However, Ngo said the writer bullied a random Asian man because he was not in the state of Louisiana at the time of the harassment.
Thor Benson is a freelance writer for left-wing media outlets such as The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, NBC News, and Business Insider. On Friday at 1:26 a.m., Benson proudly boasted on Twitter: "I just ran into Andy Ngo at a bar in New Orleans. I politely told him he's a 'garbage person.' Lol."
"I was at a dive bar and he came in and started talking to people and I put my hand on his shoulder and said it and then went out for a cigarette," Benson said of the alleged encounter.
Benson claimed that the man he harassed "just left," adding, "I think my comment made him nervous lol."
Some of Benson's followers advocated that he should have assaulted the man at the bar.
One of Benson's followers replied, "Did you throw a whiskey sour with a brick garnish at him? He needs the attention."
However, Ngo disputes Benson's story.
"Thor Benson, a freelance contributor to @thedailybeast, @PopSci & others tried to racially profile me in public & instead ended up harassing a random Asian victim," Ngo wrote on Twitter. "Benson announced this proudly & his followers urged violence against the man."
Ngo pointed out that he was "live streaming on GETTR on Thursday night" around the time that Benson claimed he confronted the journalist.
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