Journalist Who Wished Death on Covington Catholic High School Students Has Reportedly Lost His Job

By Ewan Palmer On 1/22/19 at 8:37 AM EST

A freelance reporter has lost his job at digital company INE Entertainment after tweeting he wanted Covington Catholic High School students and their parents "to die" in the wake of a video involving Native American protesters in Washington DC.

Erik Abriss lost his job as a post-production supervisor at INE in the wake of the comments aimed towards teenage students who attend the school in Kentucky.

Abriss, who also contributes to New York Media's entertainment site Vulture, was reacting to the viral video that at first appeared to show MAGA hat-wearing Nick Sandmann confronting a Native American man during a March for Life rally, which coincided with the Indigenous Peoples March.

Subsequent video footage of the incident appeared to show the Native America man, identified as Nathan Phillips, approaching the students after they were being yelled at by another group at the rally, the Black Hebrew Israelites.

"I don't know what it says about me but I've truly lost the ability to articulate the hysterical rage, nausea, and heartache this makes me feel. I just want these people to die. Simple as that. Every single one of them. And their parents," Abriss tweeted in response to the original video of Sandmann.

"Racism is in its Boomer death throes. It will die out with this younger generation," he added. "Look at the shit-eating grins on all those young white slugs' faces. Just perverse pleasure at wielding a false dominion they've been taught their whole life was their divine right. Fucking die."

In a statement to The Wrap, INE said it was "surprised and upset to see the inflammatory and offensive rhetoric" on Abriss's Twitter account.

"While we appreciated his work, it is clear that he is no longer aligned with our company's core values of respect and tolerance. Therefore, as of January 21, 2019, we have severed ties with Abriss."

The company added that Abriss never worked as a writer for them. Vulture did not have any comment to make on the matter when contacted by Newsweek.

Elsewhere, President Donald Trump has come to the defense of the teenagers at the center of the video.

"Nick Sandmann and the students of Covington have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be," Trump tweeted. "They have captivated the attention of the world, and I know they will use it for the good - maybe even to bring people together. It started off unpleasant, but can end in a dream!"

The comment arrived after Covington Catholic High School confirmed the school will be closed on January 22 as a result of threats to students.

"After meeting with local authorities, we have made the decision to cancel school and be closed on Tuesday, January 22, in order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff," the school's principal, Robert Rowe, wrote in a letter to parents, reports WKYT.

"All activities on campus will be canceled for the entire day and evening. Students, parents, faculty and staff are not to be on campus for any reason. Please continue to keep the Covington Catholic Community in your prayers."