Bethenny Frankel in 2009, hayu via Wikimedia Commons
In what’s become a particularly disturbing trend in New York City, more and more women are coming forward with reports of being randomly punched in the face by complete strangers while walking around Manhattan. The latest? Former Real Housewives of New York star and margarita mogul Bethenny Frankel, whose comment indicates this trend might not be as new as it seems.
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In response to fashion student Mikayla Toninato recounting her recent assault on TikTok, Frankel chimed in, “This is insane bc this happened to me a few months ago but I was embarrassed to say. I was on the UWS [Upper West Side]. Insane. I was taking video of a bakery.” No further information was given, and a scan of Frankel’s social media pages didn’t come up with any bakeries. The comment now appears to be deleted.
Toninato’s video — which has garnered over 12 million views — was in response to another harrowing account from 23-year-old Halley Kate Mcgookin, a popular influencer and podcaster who resides in downtown Manhattan. NYPD officials confirmed that as she “was walking in the vicinity of West 16th Street and 7th Avenue [on Monday], an unknown individual hit her in the head.” Mcgookin fell to the sidewalk after the assault and was left with a massive welt on the right side of her head. Following a hospital visit and meeting with police, she continued to share details with her followers in an effort to raise awareness. Now, a failed political candidate — Skiboky Stora of East New York — has been charged with the assault. According to The Post, he appeared in court yesterday. At this time, no further details on the ongoing case are known.
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Since their reports have gone viral, over a dozen other women have shared similar stories — with the majority of incidents taking place between West Houston Street and Union Square. As always, vigilance is key — many reported victims noted they were on their phones at the time of the attacks.
You get and endure what you voted for. This absolute lawlessness in the city is a self-inflicted wound that New York City politicians as if intentionally caused to New Yorkers. Never seen anything even remotely that bad in my 35 years living in the city.
Precisely.
Max:
I voted for women cluelessly walking down the street glued to cellphones?
Yes, women are worse than men.
Part of walking down the street means paying attention to your surrounding. Does this mean Ms Frankel and the like are partly to blame? Yes.
Hey FACT CHECK – Your story says this fool is from East Harlem, but everything else I’m seeing references that he is from and ran for office in East New York, an entirely different neighborhood in an entirely different borough.
I was punched by a vagrant right outside of my building at 75th & Amsterdam. Two witnesses took photos and I found out where the perp “stayed”. A Lt. at the precinct told me to “move on with your life” – that even if he was in custody nothing would happen to him. Honestly, the police response was as upsetting as the assault.
Upsetting, but true (unfortunately).
This has happened to two women I know.
We used to have police cars and policemen on the streets of Manhattan. Like it or not it is a big help. There is always a downside & upside to every issue. Just reinstate the cops on the street and the results will show.
She’s part of the problem. She got what she’s voted for.