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N-word use costs intern spot in Houston mayor’s office

Mayor Sylvester Turner's Office kicked out an intern accused of using the N-Word and bullying Instagram models.

HOUSTON - Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office kicked out an intern accused of using the N-word and bullying Instagram models.

The 23-year-old is a University of Houston student.

“What kind of person goes on a social media page going after somebody that you don’t even know?” said Jerry Morka, a Houston-based filmmaker and music director who posted screen grabs of the student’s words.

Morka said the woman attacked one of his models with brutal comments on his Instagram page few months ago.

He blocked her and thought it was over. However, she showered one of Morka’s models with insults too nasty to show or repeat Friday morning.

“She was going at (one of my models) calling her names and telling her to go back to China 'cause she’s Asian or something like that,” Morka said. “She was just being very disrespectful. This other girl (the attacker) was going after, she didn’t even say anything back to her. They don’t know each other.”

The attacker took down her Instagram page after Morka posted screen grabs and threatened to call Mayor Turner. Before he did, she found Morka’s number on Instagram and called. A profane conversation ensued. It ended with the student using a series of N-words.

“When she called me, I thought she was at least going to grow some sense and apologize for whatever she did,” Morka said. “She didn’t and it was like, 'Wow.' I can’t believe you’re actually doing stuff like this.”

In a statement, Mayor Turner’s office condemned the students actions.

“The city has immediately ended the student’s unpaid internship with the Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs,” said Alan Bernstein, Director of Communications for the Houston Mayor’s Office. “Mayor Turner and the City of Houston strongly condemn hate speech and hateful acts.”

“The comments made on social media do not represent the university and are inconsistent with the values of this university,” said Chris Stipes, Director of Media Relations for the University of Houston. “We strongly condemn these statements.”

KHOU 11 News chose not to name the students because she committed no crime.

At this point, Morka simply wants an apology.

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