A family-owned raisin company is distancing itself from one of its heirs after his arrest over a string of racist and antisemitic outbursts in the Pacific Palisades.
In a statement Wednesday, Lion Raisins denounced the conduct of family scion Bruce Lion, 64, following reports detailing his repeated verbal attacks against Jewish neighbors.
“Recent reports about the conduct of Bruce Lion are deeply troubling and do not reflect the values of Lion Raisins,” a company spokesperson said. “We unequivocally condemn antisemitism, racism, and all forms of hate, discrimination, and intolerance. Bruce Lion does not actively participate in the company’s day-to-day operations.”
The statement came a day after Lion charged with making terror threats.
Newly surfaced footage from his arrest shows the dried-produce heir handcuffed and surrounded by officers while unleashing another profanity-laced rant.
“Hey f—k you Jews, f—k you Jews, you’re going to hell,” Lion can be heard shouting.
At another point, he asks the person recording the arrest whether they are Jewish.
“Hey, are you Jewish, boy? Because it’s starting. Five days ago. Judgment day motherf—er. Tell your friends,” he says in the video.
As officers attempted to place him into a patrol vehicle, Lion appeared to resist and continued yelling.
“Listen motherf—er, I’ll f—ng hurt you. Hey, call my lawyer, call my f—ng lawyer,” he is heard saying before the cruiser door closes.
The arrest followed multiple incidents involving Rabbi Zushe Cunin, Lion’s neighbor in Pacific Palisades.
According to videos obtained by the California Post, Lion shouted antisemitic remarks from the balcony of his $5.3 million mansion, directing abuse toward Cunin and airing what were described as incoherent grievances about Judaism and the rabbi himself.
Cunin said the confrontations escalated after Lion purchased the neighboring property in March.
The rabbi also accused Lion of disrupting worship services at Chabad of Pacific Palisades, where he yelled slurs targeting Jewish and black people and falsely claimed Jewish people were responsible for burning down the Palisades.
Additional recordings captured Lion repeatedly using the N-word.
Cunin said one incident unfolded in front of children attending a congregation gathering at his home.
“It was horrific,” Cunin said. “I’ve never experienced it, especially in front of kids. Little children. In this country, to have to see this kind of hatred and antisemitism is just unacceptable.”
Lion has had several previous encounters with law enforcement, including arrests involving criminal threats and gun possession.
