Overview
- The exchange began after Marattin questioned Gaza casualty figures and invoked the SS in a post, prompting Antonio Esposito to call the message indecent.
- Marattin replied, “Tu invece mi sembri davvero molto brutto…”, directing a personal insult at Esposito’s appearance.
- He later posted a public apology, calling it an error and saying he did not know of Esposito’s preexisting condition, offering heartfelt apologies and even a beer.
- Esposito, a teacher and musician from Matera described as having a facial condition, accepted the apology but said officials must never use a citizen’s appearance as a weapon.
- Regional leaders of the Partito liberaldemocratico in Basilicata distanced themselves from the remark, and Marattin later defended the comment as irreverent humor while lamenting what he called excessive “politically correct.”