A social media video posted by Dr. Mehmet Oz Wednesday is drawing backlash from the Armenian community and state officials.
In the video, the Trump administration appointee appears to be targeting Armenian-owned businesses in Van Nuys, accusing them of being fraudulent fronts for criminal activity.
Community advocates and business owners say Dr. Oz’s accusations are deeply offensive and medical clinics tell NBC4 the video is already having an impact, with patients calling to see if the claims are true.
“What we have learned, there’s roughly 3.5 billion dollars of fraud taking place here in Los Angeles, in hospice and homecare. It’s run quite a bit of it by the Russian Armenian Mafia, you notice the lettering and language behind me,” Dr. Oz says in the video.
The former television host turned administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claimed businesses controlled by Armenians in Van Nuys are fronts for healthcare fraud schemes.
“Our office is reviewing reports that Dr. Mehmet Oz targeted the Armenian American community in Southern California recently, making racially charged claims of fraud outside Armenian-owned businesses, including a popular bakery. Given the historic sensitivities involved, we are taking these allegations seriously. Any and all acts of hate have no place in California,” wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office in response to the video.
Dr. Oz then fired back at the Governor, saying, “If there were a real defense for California’s fraud crisis, we’d hear it. CMS and law enforcement will keep doing the actual work: going after fraudsters, period.”
Garen Janbachian with the Armenian National Committee of America says these statements from Dr. Oz have sparked outrage in the community because he’s standing in front of legitimate businesses and saying they’re fronts for criminal activities.
“The store he’s standing in front of is a bakery, is like a family-owned bakery. They are of Armenian descent,” said Janbachian. “Drive this Armenophobia, the fear of Armenians, the portraying Armenians as a negative portraying Armenians as bad people forward. That agenda is being pushed forward through Dr. Oz.”
NBC4 spoke to several Armenian-owned businesses, including medical clinics, who did not feel comfortable going on camera, but said the incident is extremely upsetting and harmful to their reputation.
“Someone from the federal government comes and says, ‘Oh, these businesses are fraudulent.’ And no matter how baseless they are, they do have their effects,” said Janbachian.