Sac State professor seen in viral video where wife uses racial slur against neighbors
Video sent to campus authorities for review, university says
Screenshot via Facebook
A Facebook video posted Friday, May 1 went viral, showing a Sac State professor and a woman arguing with their neighbors. The man in the video was identified as Tim Ford by university administrators.
May 5, 2020
A since-deleted Facebook video posted May 1 showing a Sacramento State professor and his wife arguing with their neighbors — with the wife using racial slurs — went viral, accumulating over 6,000 views as of Tuesday.
The video has been sent to campus authorities for review according to Brian Blomster, Sac State director of news and communications.
In the video, Sac State economics professor Tim Ford and his wife Crystal Ford are seen in a verbal dispute with their neighbors. Crystal Ford uses racial slurs multiple times, refers to the person recording as a “bitch” and flips off the camera.
At the end of the video, Tim Ford tosses his drink and its contents at his neighbors’ window.
Story continues below Reddit post.
Sac State professor seen in viral video where wife uses racial slur against neighbors from r/PublicFreakout
Problems with the video? View here.
“I’m a professor at Sac State, dude,” Tim Ford says in the video. “I have a Ph.D. I don’t need to be dealing with shit like this.”
The woman who recorded and posted the video, Mikaela Cobb, said in the post that the couple are her upstairs neighbors, and that they fight every day and have recently brought their arguments downstairs.
“This is what I have to deal with while in quarantine!” Mikaela Cobb said in the post. “Racial slurs are being thrown around, I can’t even (be) at peace in my own home.”
Jonathan Stein, a lawyer for the Fords, responded to a request for comment with a statement from the two.
“While we have had ongoing difficulties with one of our neighbors, there is no situation that warrants the use of racially charged words and we sincerely apologize for the behavior exhibited during this confrontation,” the statement read.
Story continues below email screenshot.
Sac State President Robert Nelsen addressed the video in a SacSend email sent Friday.
“I am deeply offended by the language in the video,” Nelsen said. “Racial epithets are repulsive and unacceptable. Personally, I am incredibly upset by the contents of the video and the harmful impact that it is having on our campus community.”
Nelsen said that the altercation is a personnel matter that the university is investigating, and said they will not address it again publicly.
In the comments, Mikaela Cobb says the argument apparently started because Crystal Ford was mad about the smell of bacon grease.
“Guys she was mad it smelled like bacon grease!? Like I can’t eat!?” Mikaela Cobb’s comment read.
Mikaela Cobb also said in the comments that the apartment complex has sent Tim Ford and his wife multiple notices, but nothing has happened yet.
Cobb’s mother, Chrissy Cobb, said her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were the ones who took the video, and said they also have a video of the Fords pouring beer down their balcony.
Mikaela Cobb said she could not provide further details because the apartment complex has hired an attorney.
Nina Watkins, property manager for The Phoenix, said she disapproved of Ford’s actions.
“We do not condone the behavior as witnessed in the video,” Watkins said.
She declined to comment further to protect resident privacy.
Additional reporting by Margherita Beale, Kylie Robison and Brooke Uhlenhop.
UPDATE: May 6, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
This story has been updated to reflect comment from Tim and Crystal Ford via their attorney, Jonathan Stein.
UPDATE: May 8, 2020 at 9:40 a.m.
This story has been updated to reflect a response from Sac State President Robert Nelsen.
UPDATE: May 8, 2020 at 10:01 p.m.
This story has been updated to reflect a response from Nina Watkins, property manager for The Phoenix.
Sheryl Cox • Jun 17, 2020 at 8:36 am
The husband PHD is just as guilty as the wife. Though the altercation didn’t take place on campus, he is a representative of the school. He should maintain his professionalism at all times because he represents the school.
HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED!!!
Frank davie • May 21, 2020 at 3:15 pm
Only last week I read about university students in oberlin sabotaging a bakery with protests outside their shop and trying to ruin their business, encouraged by uni professors. Thankfully the family run business sued the campus and won several millions in compensation. It seems University campuses harbor their own brand of bigots while beating others for what they are guilty of.
Ruth • May 20, 2020 at 10:02 am
Tensions are running high. An argument between neighbors is to be expected. She used racist language. Can you imagine what’s said in private? All parties were acting uncivilized. There was no dignity at this conflict. Ageism,sexism, racism and elitism all exist and it goes both ways. But it isn’t illegal until it’s acted upon. They were called on their mistake. They apologized. No need for further shaming. Let it go. Give them time to deal with their humiliation. This situation got way out of hand. We all make horrible mistakes. Someone will need to move.
Kyle • May 12, 2020 at 6:08 pm
If Sac State doesn’t fire this professor after this altercation after being filmed what does that say about the University and it’s staff? Completely unacceptable!
Sheila Jackson • May 12, 2020 at 11:38 am
Definitely showing their true colors, sober OR drunk. He needs to be fired immediately! They only apologize because they are embarrassed, not because they are sorry. His bragging about his PhD status obviously hasn’t gotten him too far at this stage in his life—still living in an apartment with people his kids age. Laughable.
Nolan Ross • May 12, 2020 at 7:43 am
Everyone trying to excuse the fat drunk guy – he freaking THREW HIS BEER at the window of the people his wife was insulting with racial epithets! They are BOTH garbage. And the poor neighbors had to move out because this trash keeps harassing them, screaming at them, calling them names and cursing at them, and pouring beer on their property. The “professor” and his wife are both worthless excuses for humans. Stop excusing him!
Nikki Renae • May 11, 2020 at 9:16 pm
At no time did the professor condemn his wife’s use of racial slurs, which is a sure sign he is in agreement with her using them. There is no way I could stand by and hear someone call someone the N word and not condemns that. The university should fire him because he has shown that he will not stand up for what is right. This is so disturbing, it hurts me to my core. Just because his wife has an alcohol problem, it does not justify her being a racist. If I’ve ever drank too much, I don’t just become racist. Wake up and stop protecting white supremacists like this professor and his wife.
Mandy • May 11, 2020 at 5:21 pm
This is absolutely horrible. You go to someone else’s apartment because you don’t like the smell of bacon. That’s why you move out of an apartment and get you a house. You don’t have to put up with other people’s stuff. This is a racist, drug addicted, and alcoholics couple. Throwing out their credentials I guess that made them somehow superior. That apartment complex should be sued for not evicting these people earlier. I wouldn’t want my children to EVER have him as a professor!
John • May 11, 2020 at 1:19 pm
That was absolutely reprehensible! It became a university problem when he felt the need to make himself look self-important and used the school’s name and his position within. It appears that both, him and his wife, need to check into a rehab center. That guy threw a beer can at her window, he has serious issues too. I guess he didn’t think of the consequences or outcome when he was in a drunken stupor, but he is now.
Daniel McComb • May 11, 2020 at 6:09 am
Drew R: “Honestly one of the most shocking things about this is that Sac State doesn’t pay their teaching staff enough to afford a decent place to live.”
No. Full Stop. This man is paid well over 80K a year, plus well over 30k in CSU (CA tax payer) funded benefits. Please don’t suggest we need to pay these people more. Also, check out what the President of Sac State makes, plus his automobile and housing allowance. These people are purposely overpaid so they can siphon more money from us next time around.
They appear to have a drug and/or alcohol problem, which I’m sure contributes to the wonderful apartments they chose to live in.
Stingers Up!!!
John j • May 11, 2020 at 3:36 am
You get what you give out. Take responsibility and be responsible for your actions… no excuse 95B. They should have thought about their jobs before going to a neighbors house to harass them. Deal with it… I do not feel sorry for them not one bit. I feel sorry for the couple that had to be subjected to this type treatment. Deal wit it!!!
Drew R. • May 11, 2020 at 12:22 am
Honestly one of the most shocking things about this is that Sac State doesn’t pay their teaching staff enough to afford a decent place to live.
Rhonda • May 10, 2020 at 3:34 pm
If they have a Master and a PHD, why are they staying in an apartment??
Steph • May 10, 2020 at 2:27 pm
The racial slurs were horrible but also the comment about having a PhD was incredibly offensive. Having a PhD does not make one person better than another.
Buckminster Fuller • May 10, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Fire him.
Vyacheslav S Chiley • May 9, 2020 at 10:06 pm
I am a Sac State graduate. I have never had this man as a professor. In my opinion, the man should not be punished for the bad behavior of another person. Even if it is his wife. If she did something wrong, shame her, not her husband. Definitely don’t fire him for something someone else did. How far will this be taken in the future? Imagine if your relative, parent, sibling, adult child, does something inappropriate in the future. Should you be punished for it?
chris • May 9, 2020 at 11:10 am
I left Sac State from the endless racism and politics from their liberal white professors. The education is poor and the leadership all the way to Nelsen is garbage. They just nod their head and look the other way while collecting massive paychecks to play dictators.
Rich Andrade • May 9, 2020 at 11:01 am
If my kids attend Sac State, I hope they don’t have this guy as their professor. If so, I will demand a change in lecturer or refund of money.
Daniel McComb • May 9, 2020 at 7:03 am
My favorite part is where he states he’s a professor with a PHD… as if that matters. What a tool. He looks like a fat drunk. The arrogance of these professors we shell out money to is ridiculous.
We don’t need FREE college, we need to CHANGE college. If CSU didn’t pay these professors 150k a year, the University Presidents 300k a year and then charge almost 300 bucks a semester for parking, maybe college would be in the realm of affordable. But that’s another topic.
Oh, and his wife was good too: “I hauave muy mmmsmmmmmasaterrrrsss”
These are our “higher education” educators? Hmmm. Think about it folks.
Annoying • May 8, 2020 at 7:54 pm
Shame on her for using N word 🙁 no way such highly educated person would confronting their neighbor with her unprofessional choice of language 🙁
Dexter • May 8, 2020 at 7:11 pm
Unfortunately this incident between neighboring couples has happened. If you don’t like your neighbors be the professional you claim to be and PROPERLY address it OR MOVE. We all try to celebrate the freedoms of this American society. What comes to my mind are things like Character/ Integrity/ Respect / Common Sense. They both boast about their level of education yet I’ve known people who haven’t finished high school who possess more CLASS & Common Sense than these two. Being under the Influence of Alcohol or any other substances outdoors in PUBLIC also speaks to who they are. Yes once you exit your door you’re in PUBLIC SPACE. To use Racially Charged name calling to COMMUNICATE in itself speaks to who these people are at their CORE. When you don’t respect yourself you don’t respect others. The man involved in this video TEACHES/ MOLDS MINDS??? CRAZY!!!
Drevin • May 8, 2020 at 6:58 pm
I’m faculty (not at Sac State but at another nearby college) and my head is shaking at this guy. He’s an Associate Professor and he makes a decent, though not at all spectacular living, he is of some institutional rank and he acts like a buffoon bragging about his PhD? From the University of New Hampshire? It’s not known for its research and PhD programs. Oh- and he wont get fired. This is a personal issue that happened off school property that didnt involve students (from what I gather). He’s tenured. He can’t be fired. And I value tenure and think it’s important but the issue isnt tenure itself, the system, but rather who gets it and how and why? This guy has a PhD from a lower ranked school, he’s got few academic papers (I looked him up). Original research and papers, grants won, external funding, citations are among the things you look for when someone is up for tenure. This guy met that for tenure and promotion to Associate? What are the standards at Sac State? (And by the looks of it, yet hes under the influence of some substance and she is most definitely on something. Racism cant be excused away by drugs and going to rehab.)
Julius Hill • May 8, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Dang….I registered for his summer class :/
Ruby Shields • May 8, 2020 at 10:10 am
https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/gexwjh/sac_state_professor_seen_in_viral_video_where/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Is he getting fired or what?
Kaitlyn • May 8, 2020 at 9:58 am
Wow. I am really interested to see what the University will do. Because not only was there the racial slurs coming from the wife, but the beer pouring? That’s all done by the PROFESSOR. How embarrassing and disgusting. Quality people right here. Makes you wonder what other professors are bigots that you surround your self with, trusting with your education, paying thousands of dollars in tuition to learn from, look up to as inspiration, etc. Professors are far from perfect but atleast be a decent, inclusive, and respectful human being.
Makes my skin crawl.
Jason • May 8, 2020 at 9:44 am
I am in no way justifying the Ford’s actions however but how some people are acting is pretty disturbing. What jurisdiction does the School have over something that happens in the vicinity of their own home. Should a man lose his job because of some ignorant stuff that his wife said. He should have drug tests? Ok, while we are at it lets drug test all the students that are receiving financial aid.
Look, these are some crazy times that we are in and people are dealing with it in all types of different ways. In my opinion, both him and his wife had been drinking (i worked for 20 years in military Law enforcement so i have some experience with people who are intoxicated), and are probably dealing with some sort of stress at home both professionally and personally (just like we all are). Like i had said before, i am not justifying his actions but the point that i am trying to get across is that we should not rush to judgement and condemn the man to lose his career (especially when his wife was the main agitator in the situation.
Everyone just needs to calm down and not rush to judgement. Im sure the university will do an investigation and will take actions that take the totality of the circumstances of everything involved that are in the best interests of all involved.
Francisco • May 7, 2020 at 6:25 pm
Wow. I had Professor Ford for Macroeconomics last semester and he was the best. He was always funny and brought in his wife and dog when we had an exam on Halloween and passed us out candy. Sad to see his wife resort to using racial slurs and Ford defending this, going as far as to pour beer on their property. To think I was hoping to take one of his classes again but I guess not.
Valerie • May 7, 2020 at 6:06 am
someone please drop the link!
Kong • May 7, 2020 at 1:44 am
His wife looks like a drug addict. Will I think she might be one. Wow I have never seen it hear a college professor will act like this. No matter if your at home or school you should always act like an adult and act like a professional processor that you are. There’s is no way you should act like that when your at home. If you think no one will know who you are your wrong bc there will be someone out there that will know who you are and you will be very famous. Hope he gets punish from college.
Zhanea Clark • May 7, 2020 at 1:33 am
There is no “slap on the wrist” nor should it even be up for DISCUSSION. This is complete trash, this is a university where future students and professionals pay a good amount of money for a safe space and higher education! For a top University in the state of California WHAT exactly would that tell students and alumni for keeping or tolerating any of this type of bafooney ?? Is this really what generations of people look forward to when committing and continuing their education at Sac State University ??? What does this open up and allow actual staff and students to do openly next ?! This is nothing less than threatening and ALARMING
D • May 6, 2020 at 10:15 pm
I’ve had this guy for my econ class last semester. Sometimes he’d show up to class not looking right even though he kept composure. And clearly in this video, his wife was on something. If his wife was on drugs I don’t doubt that he does drugs too. I hope Sac State starts to require drug tests from professors occasionally and randomly. This guy should definitely be tested. If athletes can be demanded to get tested randomly for drugs, so should this guy for his job.
C C • May 6, 2020 at 8:22 pm
Why is a PHD Professor living in an apartment?
Tom • May 6, 2020 at 5:29 pm
#madeatsacstate
Graduating out • May 6, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Professor Ford chose to have a wife who’s racist, and likely an addict. They fight daily and poured beer down their balcony? Wish she made that video public too. It’s not uncommon for spouses to use together, he might just be able to keep his composure better than her. I hope Sac State requires drug tests from him occasionally and randomly, the temptation to use is probably in his face daily if his wife is on something. If athletes can be demanded to get tested randomly for drugs, so should this guy. Sac State needs to take out the trash, hopefully they can do something actually meaningful and not just a slap on the wrist.
Michelle Cisco • May 6, 2020 at 10:58 am
She is high off of something and he is ignorant.