Toronto Area Realtor Suspended After Making Fun of Bombed Gaza
After a social media post about the Israel-Hamas war garnered immediate and harsh criticism, the franchise that owns and operates the real estate agent’s business terminated his operations. An online screenshot purports to show a Re/Max representative making fun of the wreckage and demolished structures in the Gaza Strip.
More than 1,400 Israelis died in the Hamas attack, which prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war. Israel also cut off Gaza’s population’ access to food, water, and electricity in the days following the attack. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 3,478 people have died and more than 12,000 have been injured in Gaza since the war started.
On social media, Vadim Vilensky posted, “Coming to the market,” along with two laughing emojis.
A photo that looked to depict debris in the Gaza Strip accompanied the message. The post read, “Off market, 130 square miles, Ocean front lot, No utility, No power/water.”
This obnoxious post has outraged many Canadians:
Remax has issued a condemnation to Vadim Vilansky:
“RE/MAX Canada deeply disagrees with the actions and sentiments of Mr. Vilensky. Our business is a franchise organization made up of hundreds of independently owned and operated real estate offices, and each RE/MAX broker and agent is an independent contractor, including Mr. Vilensky,”
Social Media Outrage and Petition
Canadians who frequently use social media platforms have been outraged by Vilensky’s mocking of Gaza bombing and shortly after a petition was created demanding Vilensky’s realtor license to be suspended. More than 7000 people have signed the petition.
Since then, Vilensky’s social media accounts appear to have been deleted or deactivated, and the post has been taken down.
In response to the controversal social media posts, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, which represents more than 73,000 licensed real estate brokers and salespeople in and around the Greater Toronto Area, announced that it has opened a “formal Professional Standards investigation.”
“We are dealing with it according to our By-Law, rules and Code of Conduct as there is no place for intolerance or insensitivity during these concerning times in global affairs,” Paul Baron, TRREB President, said in a statement provided to CP24.com.
