Braddock restaurant owner apologizes for comparing Gov. Wolf, Levine to Nazis

A Braddock business owner made a Facebook post this week comparing Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine to Nazis.

Levine is Jewish.

Robert Portogallo, owner of Portogallo Peppers N’AT, on Wednesday posted the photo of Nazis on Facebook, with Levine and Wolf’s faces superimposed. “Thursday’s lunch special is the Getapo Combo. The Levinie Wienie and Wolfe Waffle Fries for $5.99. Political opinions are free!” the post read.

Portogallo has since apologized.

The post — now deleted — received swift backlash from community members, including Braddock Mayor Chardaé Jones, who posted her own response on Facebook.

“My initial reaction was, ‘not again,’ ” Jones said with a sigh.

Portogallo has made Facebook posts mocking Levine before, in which he dressed himself in a wig, glasses and pearls. That post also was condemned by many, though Portogallo said he didn’t know Levine is transgender.

“Are you trying to (fill) a bingo card of what’s most offensive?” Jones said Friday.

The most recent post was taken down in less than 24 hours, Portogallo said, after he saw people were offended. But by that time, the screenshots already were being circulated. He said he didn’t know Levine is Jewish and the posts were not intended to be anti-Semitic.

Portogallo on Friday told the Tribune-Review that he posted out of frustration over the state’s tight restrictions on bars and restaurants.

“It just feels like we’re being singled out, and a lot of people aren’t going to make it,” Portogallo said. “We’re hanging on by a thread.”

Some members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Restaurant and Tavern Association have threatened a 100% reopening, in direct contrast to Wolf’s orders. Portogallo said he wouldn’t be participating in that move, as his establishment at least has outdoor patio seating.

Still, he apologized for the joke being offensive, saying it was “not the way” to handle his stress.

“Everything is really sensitive right now, and I should know better,” he said.

He insists the post was made as a joke, an attempt to “make light of the situation.” But after offending so many — again — Portogallo said he’s done posting political references on social media.

“I’ve gotta quit trying to be a comedian,” he said. “I’m done. … I should have learned my lesson the first time.”

Levine has been subject to repeated criticism and transphobia after gaining notoriety during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this week, she was misgendered on Twitter by a senior legal adviser to the Trump reelection campaign.