UCLA's Jay Toia addresses elevator video, releases statement

UCLA defensive lineman Jay Toia was involved in a Halloween night elevator incident involving several college-aged people, which included a viral video of Toia cursing at the bystanders.

Days after the incident, Toia on Thursday night released a statement on Twitter in which he addressed the incident and apologized.

“My reaction and language Sunday night will never be acceptable,” Toia’s Twitter statement reads. “I am very sorry and I sincerely apologize to those that were affected. While the entire story was not told publicly, my response was not only inappropriate, but wrong and did not align with how my parents raised me. My parents raised me right but I did wrong on my own. Again, I am deeply sorry.

“I love being a Bruin. I am sorry for disappointing UCLA, our fans, my family, my team and coaches. I will continue to comply with the university process. I will accept and use this as opportunity to grow as a man and as a learning opportunity.”

UCLA was made aware of the video and released a statement of its own, pledging to take disciplinary action against Toia.

“We’re aware of a recent video in which a student-athlete made disparaging remarks,” UCLA said of the Toia incident. “This was inappropriate and not in line with our values and expectations. As such, we are taking disciplinary action and working with our campus partners to assist with education for the student.”

Video evidence of the elevator incident as released via social media. In the video, Toia can be heard making multiple disturbing comments such as, ‘I’ll slap a b—-,’ I’ll slap a b—- too,’ ‘I don’t give a f—,’ among others. Toia can also be heard asking the students in the elevator if they go to USC and are Trojans, and one female student responds with, “No, nobody’s a Trojan here. We go to UCSB.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Toia had his NIL partnership terminated with Campus Mogul – a college NIL apparel company – and his items have been removed from their website.

Jay Toia transfers from USC to UCLA

A native of Tonga who moved Inglewood, California and went to Grace Brethren High School, Toia originally committed to USC and played spring football before transferring to UCLA.

After joining the Bruins’ program over the summer, Toia made one appearance against Arizona. The 6-foot-3, 325-pound, 19-year old has three career tackles, including two solo tackles.

Toia played rugby as a child, along with his brother Abitoni Toia, who stuck with the sport. His cousin is current USC defensive lineman Stanley Ta’ufo’ou and another brother, Soane Toia, is a defensive lineman at San Jose State. His older brother Siaki Ika was a defensive tackle at LSU from 2019-2020.