RAW: Perry Greene apologizes for verbal attack
Perry Greene, former husband of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, apologized publicly to a group of young Muslim women he verbally attacked as they were praying in a parking lot in Alpharetta.
ATLANTA – The man caught on camera shouting offensive remarks at a group of Muslim women in Alpharetta issued a public apology Friday afternoon during a press conference organized by the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia), following backlash over the now-viral video.
Perry Greene, the ex-husband of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, publicly apologized Friday to three Muslim women he verbally attacked.
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Man who verbally attacked Muslim women apologizes
A mea culpa from the man who verbally attacked three Muslim women earlier this week. The man in a now viral video verbally attacking three Muslim women says he is sorry. He apologized to the three women today at their house of worship and says he hopes they will forgive him.
The backstory:
The confrontation occurred on Sunday at the Avalon mall in Alpharetta. The three women, who were wearing hijabs, had pulled into a quiet area of the parking lot to pray when the verbal altercation unfolded. The video shows the man leaning out of a Tesla Cybertruck and directing hateful comments at a group of women. The video quickly spread online, prompting outrage from community members and civil rights organizations. They shared their story and identities exclusively with FOX 5 News on Wednesday.
What they’re saying:
The apology took place at the women’s place of worship in Johns Creek during Friday prayer services. Greene met privately with the women, who had requested a public apology earlier in the week after the incident drew widespread attention.
“I just wanted them to know I humbly apologize to them because nobody should be treated that way, and that’s not the way to treat anyone with differences,” Greene said. “Hopefully they find it in their hearts to forgive me and we shouldn’t allow that in our society.”
Azka Mahmood, executive director of CAIR Georgia, said the incident is part of a troubling trend.
“Since the genocide in Gaza began, CAIR Georgia has recorded a 250% increase in anti-Muslim incidents in Georgia alone,” Mahmood said.
Attorney Ali Awad, who is working with the victims, said Greene has expressed interest in making a donation to a nonprofit combating Islamophobia.
“He has entertained the idea of issuing a donation to a nonprofit battling Islamophobia. Our goal here is education. We do not kick people while they are down,” Awad said. “We chose to take the high ground today. We chose peace. We chose to allow Mr. Greene to come to the community and issue an apology directly to the family.”
Greene did not answer questions from the media following the apology and was driven away in a waiting SUV.
Dig deeper:
The man who yelled at the women has been identified as Perry Greene, the ex-husband of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The pair were married in August 1995 and share three children.
Perry Greene reportedly filed for divorce after 27 years of marriage to MTG because their marriage was “irretrievably broken,” according to People magazine. The divorce was finalized on Dec. 22, 2022.
Local perspective:
The video has stirred renewed conversations around Islamophobia and public safety for visibly Muslim women. CAIR-Georgia officials say the incident highlights the urgent need for continued community education and action against hate-based harassment.
What’s next:
Alpharetta police say they do not intend to press charges in the case, noting that all speech is protected under the law.