SINGAPORE – An Italian restaurant has apologised after it was criticised by Italy’s Ambassador to Singapore for trying to hold a mafia-themed night.

Gotti Italiano, which is situated in Amoy Street in Chinatown, had put up a Facebook post promoting the event, titled Hip Hop Mafioso, in the days leading up to the March 8 event. Its promotional poster featured American hip-hop artists Snoop Dogg and Tupac.

In a Facebook post on March 8, Ambassador Dante Brandi said that the mafia is not something Italy is proud of.

“People have died and suffered because of it and, most importantly... (people) are still dying and suffering to fight it,” said Mr Brandi.

Naming the club after an infamous criminal family and attracting customers with a Hip Hop Mafioso night are certainly not illegal, but “definitely of a dubious taste”, he said.

“Gotti” is commonly associated with American crime boss John Gotti, who was the head of the notorious Gambino crime family in New York City. In 1992, he was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering and extortion, among other crimes. He died in prison in 2002, after being diagnosed with throat cancer.

In a comment under Mr Brandi’s post, the restaurant apologised for the offence and discomfort that its actions had caused.

“We deeply appreciate your perspective and understand the concerns you’ve raised regarding our branding and event names,” said Gotti Italiano, adding that its team has taken down all social media posts promoting the event.

“(We) are committed to ensuring that our present and future branding and promotional activities will be mindful of and respectful to Italian culture and history.”

Mr Brandi, 52, is a veteran diplomat who assumed his Singapore posting on Sept 1, 2023. He is also concurrently Italy’s Ambassador to Brunei and, in 2018, was appointed Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Some of his previous posts include serving as the Italian embassy’s chief of staff in Washington, heading the economic-commercial office of the Italian embassy in London, and acting as deputy executive director for Italy at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The Straits Times has contacted Gotti Italiano for more information.