A resurfaced video has thrown Arlington, Texas, Mayor Jim Ross into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
The clip, filmed years before he took office, appears to show him delivering a profanity-filled tirade at a well-known street preacher during a major LGBT festival.
Now, locals and political figures alike are weighing in — and many aren’t happy.
The 2018 Festival Confrontation
Back in 2018, Ross attended the Southern Decadence festival in New Orleans — a lively annual LGBT event held over Labor Day weekend.
At the time, he was not in public office.
Footage from Vice shows a man, whose face was blurred, aggressively confronting Christian street preacher Ruben Israel.
The Dallas Express has now reported that the man in the clip is Ross.
Israel, who passed away in 2023, was known for showing up at Pride events with anti-gay signs, often flanked by supporters.
He also made inflammatory statements about Islam, once claiming the religion brought “crime, murder and destruction” wherever it spread.
Beer in Hand, Words Unleashed
In the footage, Ross can be seen holding a beer as he approaches Israel and begins shouting.
He starts by acknowledging free speech but calls the preacher’s message “hateful,” adding that he is “a heterosexual guy.”
Ross then accuses Israel of standing around “hoping somebody starts some st” before labeling him a “punk motherf*er.”
His rant takes a more graphic turn when he makes crude sexual remarks about Israel’s partner, pressing him with the question, “You don’t think anal sex is good, do you?”
A Megaphone and a Louder Stage
The confrontation escalates when someone hands Ross a megaphone.
He uses it to address Israel’s entire group of supporters, telling them, “These people around here are having a good fing time… They don’t come to your stupid redneck church and fing talk s***!”
Before the exchange ends, Ross hurls another insult, calling someone in Israel’s group a “py motherfer,” then pushes through the crowd toward them.
Community Reaction — Disappointment and Outrage
Some Arlington residents expressed dismay after seeing the video. “This is unfortunate.
I am not certain what prompted this altercation. He sounds inebriated,” said local resident Kathi Arocha.
Texas Republicans were far more scathing. Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French called the footage “beyond shocking” and described Ross as “a disgusting piece of human garbage,” urging him to resign.
Tarrant County Republican Precinct Chair TK Campbell also slammed the mayor, saying his “vile, profanity-laced rant” was “a disgrace” and likening him to “the worst of today’s cursing Democrats.”
Campbell also suggested Ross might have been under stress due to his ongoing financial issues.
The Tax Trouble Angle
Ross’s finances have already been under scrutiny. The IRS has been garnishing his salary over unpaid taxes.
Records from the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector show that as of June 2025, he owed $940.39 in penalties and interest, with a total debt of $174,945.93.
Mayor’s Office Silent So Far
The Daily Mail reached out to Mayor Ross’s office for comment on both the resurfaced video and his financial situation.
As of now, no statement has been issued.