Hilary Thorton, also known as Hilary Brooke Mueller, the white Missouri woman, who lost her job for blocking her black neighbor, D’Arreion Toles, from entering his building; is married to a person of color.
The estranged couple separated over one year ago and the husband, Brandon Mueller, is staying as far as possible from the drama.
The businessman released a video Sunday that makes clear he does not support behaviors of this kind. He stated: “Hello, my name is Brandon Mueller. I wanted to take a moment to express my deep disappointment in the incident that took place at Mr. Toles’ home. The individual in the video and I have been separated for over a year, and I, myself, no longer reside at the Elder Shirt Lofts building.”
Mueller added: “My only hope is that we, as a community, can use this as an opportunity to do what my father taught me many years ago: to not allow others’ ignorance to incite anger and hatred, but to use it as an opportunity to learn, grow and promote love.”
The woman, who was dubbed Apartment Patty and Key Fob Kelly on the Internet and social media, is no longer staying silent and has been doing her best to save her reputation.
She explained: “When I noticed an individual that I did not know here, my only thought was to follow directions I had been given by condo association board members repeatedly; and that’s to never allow access to anyone that you don’t know.”
Thorton also stated: “I simply asked if he lived there because the direction from the association is … that if you don’t know the person, you don’t let them in. [Key fob] It’s the only indicator any resident has that they live in the building and he wouldn’t answer me,” she said. “He would not show me one.”
Thorton also said that since she married an African-American man, she cannot be racist. The woman, who has been receiving death threats, still believes that she did the right thing.
She is open to having a chat with Toles.
