Another female influencer has been punched in the head in New York. Is it the same attacker?

By Charlie Sawyer

Published May 23, 2025 at 12:17 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

68142

Does anyone remember that bizarre era in March 2024 when the internet became convinced that there was a rogue assailant running amok across New York City and punching influencers in the face? Well, as it turns out, it actually ended up being a few different individuals whose attacks on women coincidentally went viral at the same time. Now, over a year on, another influencer has fallen victim to an eerily similar assault.

Author and influencer Kindra Hall was punched in the face by a stranger during an unprovoked attack on Wednesday 14 May 2025. The content creator shared this information with her 66,000 followers on Instagram just two days ago, on Wednesday 21 May. 

Hall posted a video of CCTV footage capturing the moment in question. It shows a man wearing a blue hooded coat approach Hall and, out of nowhere, punch her in the head, knocking her to the ground.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by kindrahall (@kindrahall)

In the caption, Hall began: “On Wednesday, May 14th, around 10:30am I was punched in the head by a passing stranger. I wasn’t going to post this as a reel… but there are a few pieces of the story I hadn’t shared and I think they are important for my UES community and fellow NYers to know.”

The creator goes on to list a number of factors that are important to consider when looking at this attack.

For starters, she explains that she wasn’t on her phone or distracted and that this assault truly came out of the blue and was therefore completely unavoidable.

Moreover, Hall went into great detail on the failings of the police who were handling this case: “The police took approximately 30 min to arrive and once they did, even after showing the video with the guy shouting threats, acted like it wasn’t a big deal. I remember saying, ‘So since I’m not bleeding, a punch to the head is ok?!’ When I refused to back down and only after I told them I had a headache… They agreed to go to the address the man shouted in the video and MADE ME GO WITH THEM, despite having video footage clearly identifying him. I can’t describe how terrifying that was. Maybe they were hoping I’d refuse and give up?”

The caption concluded with Hall emphasising that it was her husband who obtained the security footage, not the police. Supposedly, the police didn’t even attempt to ask the owner of the nail salon (whose camera it was) for the footage.

The Independent, who reported on the assault, noted that while Hall was filming the attacker on her phone, he could be heard shouting “Want to marry me so I can slit your throat?” The man was later identified as 43-year-old Yao Reed.

When the police arrived at Reed’s address, the perpetrator said to one officer “You wanna die. Shall I incinerate you?” He was then taken away after several more officers came as back-up. The 43-year-old was later charged with assault in the third degree.

In March 2024, when a series of videos began circulating of different female influencers in NYC being victims of similar attacks, netizens theorised that it might be the same person.

@halleykate

♬ original sound - halley
@mikaylatoninato

@halley i quite literally feel your pain this was so insane

♬ original sound - mikayla
@olivia.brand

I <3 nyc

♬ original sound - Olivia Brand

However, reports later confirmed that multiple assailants were responsible for the assaults. Indeed, there’s a high chance that Reed was not involved in the attacks that took place in 2024. That being said, the similarities are eerie. Hopefully, this will be the last we hear of such awful incidents.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

South Asian creators call out influencers for cultural appropriation after seeing scandi scarves at Coachella

By Eliza Frost

Is the princess treatment TikTok trend the bare minimum or a relationship red flag?

By Abby Amoakuh

Are we tired of sustainability? Experts and retailers break down the dangers of greenhushing

By Abby Amoakuh

Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre becomes centre of conspiracy theories after revealing she has days to live

By Charlie Sawyer

Pope picking 101: What actually happens during Conclave

By Charlie Sawyer

Madison Beer opens up about reconnecting with the person who leaked her explicit photos as a teen

By Alma Fabiani

The disturbing TikTok trend sexualising fake Down syndrome faces using AI filters

By Charlie Sawyer

Trump administration announces plan to offer US immigrants $1,000 to self-deport

By Charlie Sawyer

Penn Badgley praised for opening up about fatherhood and raising sons on Call Her Daddy

By Charlie Sawyer

Lawmakers pressure Trump to provide evidence that Venezuelan asylum seeker Andry Hernández Romero is still alive

By Eliza Frost

How fans manifested Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

By Eliza Frost

The Summer I Turned Pretty stars Lola Tung and Gavin Casalegno caught in political drama

By Eliza Frost

Will Belly choose herself in the final episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty?

By Eliza Frost

Skibidi, tradwife, and delulu are among new words added to Cambridge Dictionary for 2025

By Charlie Sawyer

This Oscar-winning actor is the top pick to play Voldemort in HBO Max Harry Potter reboot

By Eliza Frost

How Jet2holidays and Jess Glynne became the sound of the summer

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Alix Earle sues Gymshark for dropping $1 million deal over pro-Israel posts

By Eliza Frost

Hailey Bieber’s new hands-free lip tint holder has everyone divided 

By Charlie Sawyer

The #MeToo movement is at risk. How the Harvey Weinstein retrial risks doing unimaginable damage 

By Charlie Sawyer

Yung Filly’s legal troubles mount as the rapper faces two new sexual assault charges in Australia