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Video: Preppy Drunk Racist Punishes Subway Riders With Ramblings


By

Ben Yakas

Published Apr 6, 2013

Modified Apr 6, 2013


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By

Ben Yakas

Published Apr 6, 2013

Modified Apr 6, 2013


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We all have our low moments—but most of us are lucky enough not to have them in public places. Unfortunately for Tom, the seemingly very intoxicated subway rider in the video below, his low moment occurred on the 1 train yesterday. According to the uploader, "He engages in a continuous tirade, filled with profanity though relatively benign in tone, until the NYPD shows up and arrests him." That tirade includes him repeatedly mumbling and shouting the phrases "I am dirty rich," "I am the real deal," and "n***a please" to almost hypnotizing effect, to the visual discomfort of his fellow straphangers (including a young boy). Is he quoting Lady Gaga's "Beautiful, Dirty Rich?" Is he singing a song only drunk preppies can hear?

Tagged

1 train

drunk

manhattan

MTA

preppy

racist

subway

subway video

train

original


Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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