Ilhan Omar's daughter Irsa Hirsi mocked for claiming she was sprayed with chemicals at Columbia protest after 'getting hit with a novelty fart spray': 'We're heading down Jussie Smollett street'

The daughter of 'Squad' member Ilhan Omar has faced criticism over claims that she was sprayed with chemical weapons during a pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University.

Irsa Hirsi, 21, appeared on MSNBC alongside another student Monday night to blast the school over its handling of the fallout from the demonstrations.

'There is definitely some hypocrisy here,' Hirsi said. 'You can kind of see it with the students that sprayed us with the chemical weapons and the fact that there is no public information as to what happened to them.'

She asserted the school was making the protests into 'a whole public spectacle... when we haven’t done anything to physically harm students.' 

While it is unclear what 'chemical' Hirsi was referring to, a Jewish student was suspended after spraying a foul-smelling liquid on protesters during a demonstration in January.

Ilhan Omar's daughter, 21-year-old Irsa Hirsi, has faced criticism for claiming that she was sprayed with chemical weapons during a pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University

Hirsi was arrested for refusing to leave an encampment on the campus and subsequently suspended from Barnard College

Hirsi accused the school of treating pro-Palestine demonstrators differently than students on the opposing side

The student, identified only as 'John Doe,' filed a lawsuit against the university last week, claiming he sprayed 'gag gifts' called 'Liquid Ass' and 'Wet Farts' into the air during the rally and 'not directly at any individual.'

Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport hit back at Hirsi's claims on X, formerly Twitter, writing, 'We’re heading down Jussie Smollet (sic) Street with this.'

Smollett was convicted on five counts of disorderly conduct in 2021 for staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019, then lying to Chicago police about it.

Rapaport has remained fiercely pro-Israel and made an appearance outside Columbia on Monday to brand protestors on the opposing side as 'bullies' and 'cowards.'

Hirsi, a Barnard College student, was suspended after she was arrested alongside roughly 100 other students for refusing to leave an encampment on the Columbia campus.

'The reason we got suspended so early was due to the fact that we had made ourselves known,' she said during Monday's interview. 'This was expected. We all knew the risks.'

She slammed the school for treating pro-Palestine demonstrators with hostility compared to the counter-protesters.

It is unclear what 'chemical' Hirsi, left, was sprayed with, but a Jewish student filed a lawsuit against the school when he was suspended for spraying 'fart spray' at a rally

The suit claims the unnamed student sprayed 'gag gifts' called 'Liquid Ass' and 'Wet Farts' (pictured) into the air and 'not directly at any individual'

Actor Michael Rapaport indirectly accused Hirsi of lying by drawing a comparison to Jussie Smollett, who was found guilty of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself

'We're heading down Jussie Smollet (sic) Street with this,' Rapaport wrote on X, formerly Twitter

'This is 100 percent targeted,' Hirsi said of the school's meting out of disciplinary warnings 

'This is 100 percent targeted,' Hirsi said.

'Every single protest that we have, there’s a group of counter-protesters that bring all of their items, their flags and things like that and they’re not seen as having unsanctioned protests, or really received the kind of disciplinary warnings that many of our fellow organizers receive.'

Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, has stood by her daughter, writing that she was 'extremely proud' in a social media post.

'She has always led with courage and compassion, from organizing a statewide school walk out on the 20th anniversary of Columbine at the age of 15, to leading the biggest youth climate rally at our nation’s Capitol at 16, and now pushing her school to stand against genocide,' Omar wrote.

Columbia has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit, which deems John Doe's actions 'a harmless expression of speech to demonstrate discontent with the pro-Hamas pro-Palestine message through the use of a gag gift, and nothing further.'

The student was placed on an interim suspension on January 21. However, that suspension was made effective through May 2025 after the university found him responsible for disruptive behavior, harassment and endangerment. 

Omar has stood by her daughter in the aftermath of her arrest and suspension, praising Hirsi in a post on social media

The Jewish student suing Columbia claims his actions were 'a harmless expression of speech to demonstrate discontent with the pro-Hamas pro-Palestine message'

Hirsi was among more than 100 students arrested for refusing to leave the 'Gaza solidary encampment' on the Columbia grounds 

The lawsuit asserts that the school's decision marred the student's reputation,  adding that he was doxed by classmates on social media and painted as 'dangerous' in a statement condemning the incident by former interim Provost Dennis Mitchell.

According to the suit, students who filed reports with the public safety office declined medical evaluation and refused counseling.

'To date, there has been no medical or physical evidence to support the assertions of any of the students that claimed they were harmed and/or impacted by the spray,' it reads.

'Indeed, the spray is harmless, non-toxic, and can be purchased by anyone on Amazon.'

In the aftermath of the attack, a handful of students reported burning eyes, headaches and nausea. At least three students claim to have sought medical attention.