Backlash against racist Tinder messages sent by N.J. man continues

The student who received the messages said Kyle Harcourt should apologize to those he has hurt through his words and actions.

BASKING RIDGE -- There have been some significant repercussions for a college junior who grew up in Somerset County who sent racist and violent messages via the dating app Tinder.

Kyle Harcourt, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student from Basking Ridge, resigned from the Liberty Corner Fire Company after being told his behavior was unacceptable; had his actions condemned by a Tinder vice president and had his apology rejected by the student with whom he exchanged the racially-charged messages.

Immediately after Emi Miller, a 20-year-old junior at Hollins College in Virginia, posted the screen shot on her Twitter page with hashtags to both the University of Alabama and Harcourt's Sigma Pi Fraternity last Thursday, the fallout started as the post went viral.

The University of Alabama quickly announced it had initiated a disciplinary review of Harcourt's statements and condemned them. A short time later, in a tweet, the fraternity said Harcourt's membership had been terminated.

Harcourt is a 2014 graduate of Ridge High School and recipient of a Monk Scholarship.

Miller said Friday that Harcourt hasn't reached out to her directly, but that she's glad he "acknowledged the hurt his actions have caused and has taken responsibility." But she said she couldn't accept his apology. 

"At the end of the day, it's not me who he needs to apologize to. It's the people who he has hurt through this language and past language. I can't accept an apology for racism," she said. "I just hope he chooses to do more than just apologize and reflect. He must also act with love, kindness and respect to those he once hated."  

In the exchange, Harcourt first asks if the black man in one of the photos on her profile page is Miller's boyfriend. Then, he writes "ain't no one like a (racial expletive)-loving white girl."

Miller said she was initially confused by the message until she realized the black person Harcourt was apparently referring to is actually a female roommate who is wearing a hat in the picture.

Harcourt also wrote that "I come from Alabama where the only place we like our (racial expletive) is hanging from trees." He also made homophobic remarks.

After NJ Advance Media published the story on Thursday, that evening Liberty Corner Fire Chief Ken White said in an email that Harcourt, who had risen to the rank of junior captain, had resigned from the fire company.

"The views expressed by Mr. Harcourt are not those of the Liberty Corner Fire Compnay or its members," said White. "We, as an organization, do not and will not tolerate this type of behavior."

Early Friday morning, Rosette Pambakian, vice president of Communications and Branding at Tinder sent an email saying it monitors and blocks users who demonstrate bad behavior and has a "zero-tolerance policy on those that harass and disrespect follow Tinder users."

Later Friday morning, Miller spoke to NJ Advance Media.

"I don't think I would change what I did," she said. "I hope I made a difference. I don't think I'm the first person to ever expose this type of behavior and I hope I'm not the last.

"I think the road to combating racism and bigotry in the United States is a lot longer than just one conversation. I'm just hoping the University of Alabama takes this opportunity to take a hard stance, and this conversation can spark a long-term conversation on how to handle racism and bigotry on our college campuses."