Orlando couple caught on video making racist threats against Black salesman [VIDEO]

Hate Crime Video Sparks Outrage as Florida’s Racial Tensions Resurface

A disturbing hate crime incident in Orlando, Florida, has gone viral after a video surfaced this morning, showing a white couple hurling racial slurs and threats at a Black door-to-door salesman for simply knocking on their door. The video was posted by @SeeRacists on X (formerly Twitter). It has garnered over 2.7 million views and more than 40,000 likes. Therefore, igniting a national conversation about racism, violence, and the daily challenges faced by Black professionals.

The Incident: A Threatening Encounter Captured on Camera

The video shows a Black salesman calmly attempting to explain that he was selling pest control services when he was confronted by a hostile couple. The man, later identified as Steven Wiley, 50, can be heard yelling, “You’re a” and threatening to “hang [him] from a tree.” His partner, who remains unnamed as of this writing, is seen supporting his aggression.

Despite the onslaught of threats and racial slurs, the salesman remains composed. An overlaid caption on the video reads, “Working in sales can be challenging—especially as a Black professional. Sometimes it feels like you’re pushing through more than just the job.” Thus, underscoring the broader emotional and psychological toll such encounters inflict.

The Broader Context: Florida’s Troubling Pattern of Hate Crimes

This hate crime fits into a broader pattern in Florida, a state with a recent history of racially motivated violence. In one prior case, a man was sentenced to five years for attacking Black women in a racially charged assault. The U.S. Department of Justice has documented multiple hate-based threats in the region, including references to lynching and explicit racial violence. Florida continues to experience a surge in such incidents, despite efforts to introduce racial equity measures at the policy level.

Online sleuths quickly identified Wiley in the hours following the video’s release. Follow-up posts from @SeeRacists revealed his criminal history, including 16 prior infractions and a domestic violence charge from May of this year. The couple’s address and possible contact information have also been circulated in attempts to pressure authorities into acting.

Calls for Justice Amid Police Silence

Thus far, no arrests have been confirmed, and there has been no official comment from the Orlando Police Department or federal law enforcement. This silence has only fueled public frustration and distrust. Many people are pointing to Florida’s inconsistent history of charging hate crimes appropriately.

Past cases show that it’s not uncommon for Florida prosecutors to downgrade racially motivated incidents to lesser charges, such as criminal mischief or disorderly conduct. Activists and civil rights advocates are urging authorities to file felony hate crime charges under Florida statutes, which provide enhanced penalties for bias-motivated assaults and threats.

Authenticity Confirmed by Internet Investigation

In-depth fact-checking and metadata analysis across platforms confirm that the video is legitimate. A Reddit thread posted shortly after the video went viral amassed over 30,000 upvotes and 5,800 comments. That’s where Redditors overwhelmingly expressed sympathy for the salesman and disgust at the couple’s behavior.

An Instagram reel from @greeksinformed echoed the video’s details. Therefore, referring to it as “a disturbing video out of Orlando, Florida” and condemning the couple’s conduct. No evidence has surfaced suggesting that the video was staged or manipulated.

X Reactions: Outrage, Empathy, and Denial

Public sentiment on X has been explosive. The post elicited over 1,300 replies and 525 quotes, showing a range of reactions. Approximately 70% expressed outrage and demanded action. Sample reactions include:

• “I would’ve come back and set their whole house on fire.”
• “Death penalty for both of those disgusting racist whites.”
• “Expose these Hicks. Florida is a rest haven for racism.”

Around 15% showed empathy and support for the victim:

• “Good on him for walking away and not escalating.”
• “Lord, I just want to be there sometimes to stand in the gap.”
• “It makes zero sense for us to be living amongst hateful demons like this.”

Roughly 10% of the responses were dismissive, deflecting from the issue or questioning its seriousness:

• “How is name-calling a hate crime?”
• “Black dude probably started it.”
• “Those are Democrat actors.”

A final 5% offered broader societal context:

• “The older generation is the problem. Racism is actually so stupid.”
• “What in the world is going on in our country? Hate around every corner.”

A Window into Systemic Racism in Professional Life

Beyond the horrifying words and threats, the video offers a stark reminder of the racial discrimination Black professionals often endure in customer-facing roles. Sales positions that involve knocking on doors or meeting strangers can carry additional risks for Black workers, who may be viewed with suspicion or hostility.

This echoes wider studies on racial bias in the workplace. Despite progress on diversity initiatives, Black professionals routinely report higher levels of workplace stress, emotional labor, and microaggressions. What played out on a Florida doorstep is a raw, unfiltered display of those systemic pressures.

Potential Legal Ramifications

If authorities proceed with charges, the couple could face felony hate crime counts, assault, and possibly harassment. In similar cases, viral exposure eventually led to arrests and community backlash.

The FBI and DOJ have both emphasized that hate crimes will be prosecuted under federal statutes where applicable, but critics argue these promises often fail to materialize. Whether Orlando officials will respond decisively remains to be seen.

Conclusion: A Viral Flashpoint in America’s Ongoing Racism Reckoning

This incident in Orlando is not an isolated anomaly—it’s a disturbing manifestation of deeper racial divides that still plague American communities. The viral video has sparked national outrage not only because of its content, but because it reflects a broader truth: being Black in America can still mean encountering hate for simply doing your job.

Whether justice will follow remains uncertain, but public pressure is mounting. The composure of the victim, the venom of the perpetrators, and the silence of authorities combine into a moment that demands more than social media shares. It demands accountability. And for many watching, it demands change.

Meanwhile, this man doing his job has become another situation gone viral.