Adam Willett, a 35-year-old tattoo artist, confronted men hanging St George's flags outside his home on April 19. According to major media reports, Willett asked the men to stop and believed they had 'ulterior motives' rather than just patriotism. The men said they loved the flag when asked why they were hanging it, Willett reported. When Willett removed the flag using a ladder, some men began filming him.
The footage went viral, amassing close to 1.5 million views across social media. Willett subsequently received threatening messages online. According to Daily Express - UK News, Willett described being called a traitor, subjected to homophobic slurs, told he should be hanged, and that his pregnant partner should be raped by a migrant. A fake review was also left for his business.
I was trying to ask them a few questions about why they were doing it, and they didn't really have an answer.
There is no suggestion that the man hanging the flags is linked to the abusive messages. It remains unclear who sent the messages or whether Willett reported the threats to police.
They just said they loved the flag. I don't wish these people any ill will but the fact they didn't have an answer is very telling. There are a lot of people who have genuine concerns about immigration but they're being undermined by people with ulterior motives.
The timing of everything is convenient, they're very careful with their words, and lots of people are divided by this. Braintree is a predominantly white area, but there are people of colour, and of different sexualities, and in my work, I hear how people are being impacted.
They'll claim putting up the flags is about unity and patriotism, but I don't know who is being unified here.
I've been called a traitor, homophobic slurs, been told I should be hanged, that my pregnant partner should be raped by a gang of migrants.