ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester couple who hosted a party says there was nothing racist about the event held at their East Avenue mansion this past July. Allegations of an event mocking Juneteenth, and other racist overtones, are part of a city firefighter's notice of claim against the department and the city of Rochester.
Dr. Nicholas Nicosia and his wife, Mary Znidarsic-Nicosia, discussed the accusations at a news conference Monday.
"I am not a racist person,” Mary said.
A notice of claim was filed this month by Rochester firefighter Jerrod Jones, claiming his captain forced him to attend the party. According to the complaint, the party mocked Juneteenth — the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of African American slaves. The complaint claims buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken were displayed, and a bottle of Hennessey was delivered as a gift. RFD Captain Jeff Krywy has since retired. The city had intended to fire him, according to Mayor Malik Evans.
Znidarsic-Nicosia said the family often eats KFC food. Both are denying any racist overtones. Dr. Nicosia said Jones appeared to be comfortable while at the party, and that they thanked him for his service.
"The only thing I hate more than racism are false racist allegations,” said Dr. Nicosia.
The party was dubbed the “Liberal Smashin Splish Splash Pool Party." Attorney Corey Hogan, who represents the Nicosias, said it was political in nature, not racist. During the news conference, he showed photos depicting some of the signage and displays at the party. Znidarsic-Nicosia said a friend had purchased the Juneteenth posters and a cup at a discount store. Hogan initially presented the photos as an accurate depiction of the party setup, but later said he had taken those photos himself about a week ago — well over a month after the party.
"If there were actual pictures, we'll want them,” said Hogan.
Dr. Nicholas Nicosia is a dentist. Since the allegations came out, he said he's lost patients and employees and received numerous threats. The Rochester Americans hockey club removed him as team dentist and Highland Hospital asked him to resign from its board.
"Cancel culture” was referenced several times during the news conference.
"It took me 32 years to build my reputation and less than two hours to destroy it,” he said. “Am I perfect? No. But I try to live my life by example."
Before speaking to reporters, Mary Znidarsic-Nicosia admitted that she had made what Hogan described as "vile, racist" posts on Twitter accounts which used other names — her accounts, which have since been disabled.
"The culture of Twitter operates that way,” she said. “And it's part of its charm — I don’t want to say charm — but, it gives you an opportunity to be someone you're not, in terms of a persona. For these comments, I'd like to apologize to people in the African American community, and other people I have hurt or offended by doing what I was doing on Twitter."
Meanwhile, Nate McMurray, the attorney representing Jerrod Jones, issued a response to the news conference via Twitter.
“The Nicosia’s verified everything in our complaint,” he wrote. “In addition they verified that they operate a racist Twitter account. We will use their press conference as evidence going forward.”
Hogan said the Nicosias are considering a defamation suit of their own.