A kickboxing match at Orlando's Kia Center became a scene of hateful display Saturday night when fighter Paul Miller, also known as "GypsyCrusader," displayed a Nazi salute after defeating his Jewish opponent, Ben "King" Azoulay. The event, which took place in the arena home to the NBA's Orlando Magic, saw further disturbing incidents including the display of a swastika banner by supporters in the crowd.
Following his victory by split decision, Miller, who has a tattoo of SS lightning bolts, took the microphone and used antisemitic slurs against Azoulay. Video circulating on social media also captured Miller giving a Nazi salute twice as he exited the ring. A member of his corner team wore a shirt with the slogan "FCK ISRL."
Azoulay, a Jewish influencer, had entered the ring carrying an Israeli flag, which reportedly prompted some audience members to display Nazi symbols and flash the salutes. Several fights reportedly broke out in the arena section where the incidents occurred before venue staff intervened to remove the Nazi banner.
Miller, described by the Anti-Defamation League as a "volatile white supremacist-accelerationist," has a criminal history. He previously served federal prison time on gun charges and had advocated for a "race-based civil war." He was released from prison in 2023 after pleading guilty to felony counts of possession of an unregistered firearm and ammunition and possession of a weapon as a felon.
Local elected officials swiftly condemned the actions. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer stated on X that "a symbol of hate was brought to our city this weekend. But hate, fear and division will never be welcome here." State Rep. Anna Eskamani called the display "disgusting" and a reminder of the prevalence of extremism, urging collective responsibility to combat antisemitism and white supremacy.
Marni Mandell, CEO of the central Florida Jewish organization Shalom Orlando, expressed disgust and nausea, emphasizing the community's rejection of such hatred. She called for scrutiny of future public event agreements to prevent the amplification of antisemitism.
City management, however, cited First Amendment protections, stating that as public venue operators, they are bound to allow access regardless of political ideology. A spokesperson for Kia USA, the venue's namesake, condemned the behavior and commended venue staff for their prompt action, affirming the company's support for values of respect and dignity.