Sac State professor seen in viral video where wife uses racial slur against neighbors

Video sent to campus authorities for review, university says

A+Facebook+video+posted+Friday%2C+May+1+went+viral%2C+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.

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.

Madeleine Beck and Chris Wong

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

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“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.