Woman Arrested for Mistaking Greek Flags for Israeli Symbols in New Jersey Incident

Montclair, New Jersey—A local woman was arrested after mistakenly vandalizing a restaurant's decorations, believing the Greek flags on display were Israeli flags. Amber Matthews, a 23-year-old TikTok and OnlyFans content creator, tore down the flags outside Efi's Gyro restaurant while filming a pro-Palestine tirade for her social media followers. In the video, Matthews can be heard exclaiming, "I don't stand for genocide, I don't stand for Zionism," before realizing her error when informed by bystanders that the flags were Greek.

Matthews had uploaded the video of the incident, captioned with her disbelief over the mistake, which quickly went viral. The video drew widespread criticism online for both her actions and lack of awareness. Comments ranged from surprise to disappointment, with one user pointing out, "Bro literally says gyros on the window. This is so embarrassing and offensive," and another highlighting her misunderstanding, saying, "Don't even know who you're fighting for."

The confusion between the two flags is notable yet clear—the Israeli flag features the Star of David, whereas the Greek flag displays a cross and alternating blue and white stripes.

Following the incident, Matthews was charged with bias and intimidation. Montclair police noted that Matthews had previously distributed pro-Palestine flyers at the restaurant a week before the flag-removal episode.

Amber Matthews is expected to appear in court in December to face the charges. The case has sparked conversations on social media about cultural awareness and the responsibilities of influencers when addressing sensitive geopolitical issues.