HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — The owner of a South Florida restaurant who unleashed a profane and homophobic tirade at Local 10 News reporter Jeff Weinsier last week is now apologizing in a three-minute Instagram video — though he still does not acknowledge or take responsibility for the food-safety violations that led to his business being ordered shut for the second time.
Rodolfo Velasco, who owns Don Rodone Ceviche & More in the Park Sheridan West Plaza, at 3383 Sheridan Street in Hollywood, posted the video days after calling Weinsier a “f****t” several times, telling him to “suck my d***,” and ripping a state inspection report out of Weinsier’s hands.
The confrontation occurred after Weinsier approached Velasco regarding his restaurant being ordered shut on Nov. 5 following a routine, unannounced state food-safety inspection. Records show five violations, including live and dead roaches inside kitchen equipment and on the cook line.
According to the state inspector, dead roaches were found inside an oven, under cook line equipment, and inside a flip-top unit.
Live roaches were found inside the oven, inside a drip pan area, and on the ground beneath cook line equipment, the inspector noted.
This was not the first time the restaurant was shut down. Records show Don Rodone was also ordered shut on Oct. 22, 2024. During that inspection, the state reported live roaches on a bin of flour, on equipment throughout the cook line, inside electrical outlets, under the fryer, inside control devices, and near the expo window. Dead roaches and roach droppings were also documented. A stop-sale was issued on food deemed unsafe.
Given the history, Velasco was aware of the potential outcome when inspectors returned this month.
Following last week’s incident with Weinsier, Velasco posted a written social-media statement accusing the reporter of discriminatory motives and “clear discriminatory behavior.”
In the post, Velasco wrote:
“I sincerely feel sorry for all of you, my fellow Latinos. This man, Jeff, has shown clear discriminatory behavior.
He is someone who has demonstrated hostility toward Latinos and toward people who are trying to build something for themselves. His actions directly harm small business like mine… because he personally dislikes seeing others succeed.”
He also wrote:
“This is personal, not about the accusations he is spreading… His intention is to damage my reputation and destroy what I have worked for…
He is someone who openly refuses to acknowledge his own issues and carries a dark past that will eventually come to light, something I am actively working on.”
Weinsier’s Instagram post documenting the confrontation has since received more than 430,000 views and nearly 800 comments.
Now, Velasco appears to have reversed course, at least regarding his verbal attack.
In his new three-minute video, Velasco now apologizes directly to Weinsier and expresses regret for how he reacted, saying:
“Hello everyone, my name is Rodolfo Velasco and today I want to speak from my heart without a filter… These last few days have been difficult for me and my family and for my restaurant.”
Velasco claims the report contained “things that are not true,” but does not address any specific violation.
He continues:
“I made a mistake that day. I was confused and reacted in an incorrect way. I don’t justify myself. I’m an immigrant… No, I don’t speak English well and I don’t understand everything that was happening around me.”
He maintains that his business is sanitary:
“I want them to know something — my restaurant is clean. My kitchen is clean… Every day we work with effort and respect to serve good and safe food to our community.”
Velasco asks the public not to judge him or his family and urges critics to “come and meet us,” saying:
“Words hurt. Attacks damage… You never know the history of the struggle behind every small business.”
In the video, he also addresses Weinsier directly:
“I want to tell Mr. Jeff Weinsier this… I’m sorry for the way I spoke at that moment. It doesn’t represent who I am… I’m not here to fight. I’m here to talk with respect, with humility, and with the truth. I’m here to clear my name and the name of my restaurant.”
Despite the apology, Velasco still does not acknowledge or dispute in detail the state findings that led to the restaurant’s ordered shut downs on Oct. 22, 2024, and again on Nov. 5, 2025.
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