Pair of MAGA Hat Wearing Influencers Charged with Hate Crimes After Setting Woman’s Boots on Fire
Two wannabe influencers, one sporting a MAGA hat, have been charged with hate crimes after allegedly hurling anti-black statements at a 54-year-old woman and setting her boots on fire in Chelsea last week. Michael A. Santiago, 31, and Michael James, 33, who live in the same Upper East Side rental, were arrested while livestreaming their reaction to The Post’s initial coverage of the racist incident.
The incident occurred when one of the suspects, wearing a MAGA hat, attempted to kiss the victim at West 26th Street and 7th Avenue. When she pushed him away, he started making anti-black statements towards her while his accomplice filmed the encounter on a smartphone tripod. The situation escalated when the suspect in the Pro-Trump attire set the woman’s boots on fire using a lighter, all while being recorded by his partner.
Describing themselves as “IP2” streamers, the pair’s YouTube channel claims to be inspired by an Italian avant-garde art movement from the 1960s called Arte Povera, meaning “poor art.” Prior to their arrest, they were filmed annoying bystanders, using racial slurs, and making inappropriate comments about women on the street.
Both men had previous interactions with law enforcement during their live streams, engaging in similar disruptive behavior. Their arraignments were pending in Manhattan Criminal Court as of Thursday afternoon.
