There’s a growing concern in New York City as people question why there’s a notable increase in instances where women are being unexpectedly punched in the face while simply walking down the streets.

If you happened to be scrolling through TikTok on Monday, you might have encountered a series of videos featuring women recounting their experiences of being punched in the face while walking down the street. The prevalence of these videos raises the question: what’s happening in the city that’s leading to these unprovoked attacks on women?

TikTok has become a platform for sharing disturbing experiences of random violence in New York City, with content creator and influencer Halley leading the conversation. In a video posted on Monday morning, she recounted being punched in the face while walking down the street, her swollen forehead serving as visible evidence of the attack.

“You guys. I was literally just walking and a man came up and punched me in the face,” she began the viral video, which amassed over 21.3 million views. “It hurts so bad. I can’t even talk. Literally, I fell to the ground, and now this giant goose egg is forming, and I’m like, oh my God. So crazy.”

The video sparked a flood of more than 10,000 comments, with many expressing concern for Halley’s well-being and questioning if she contacted the police. Others shared similar experiences they or others had recently endured.

“It happened to me as well, a whole slap because he didn’t like my hat,” one person shared. Another added, “OMG I saw someone else post the same thing happened to them last week.”

See video here.

Halley provided further details in a follow-up video, shedding light on the incident and its aftermath.

“I was just walking on the sidewalk, with my head down, focused on my phone, sending an email. There was plenty of space on the sidewalk, and no one was around. Then suddenly, I don’t know if he punched me or elbowed me, but I blacked out,” she recounted.

“It seemed like he was angry because my head was down. He was walking his dog and decided to body check me to remind me to be aware of my surroundings.”

After being struck, Halley collapsed to the ground and briefly lost consciousness. When she regained her senses, the man was shouting at her. Fearing for her safety, she quickly fled the scene.

One follower suggested, “Do you remember the area? Nearby businesses might have security cameras facing the sidewalk.” Another viewer noted, “Wait, this is the second video I’ve seen like this today!”

In a subsequent video update, Halley shared that she had visited urgent care for a check-up. She also disclosed that she had reported the incident to the police, who informed her that her account matched another recent report they had received.

Halley wasn’t the only one who experienced a random assault on Monday in NYC. Another influencer, Mikayla Toninato, shared a similar story in a video.

“So I just got punched in the face walking home. I was literally leaving class, turned the corner, looking down at my phone, texting. Then out of nowhere, this man just came up and hit me in the face,” she recounted. “I’m actually in shock right now. I’m just walking home because what else do you do?”

She concluded her video with a cautionary message.

“I guess if you’re in New York right now and you’re walking while looking at your phone,” she said, “Maybe don’t do that.”

Mikayla’s video also gained rapid attention, accumulating over 4.3 million views and nearly 13,000 comments.

“WHAT IS GOING ON IN NYC TODAY?” one viewer questioned in the comments. Another urged, “CALL THE POLICE this is the third time I’ve seen this story in 30 MINUTES!!!!”

See video here.

Another unsettling incident occurred in NYC just last week, as recounted by TikTok creator Olivia Brand. In her video, she revealed that she was punched while walking on the sidewalk.

“I literally just got punched by some man on the sidewalk,” she explained as she continued walking down the street. “He goes, sorry, and then punches me in the head.”

Many viewers were alarmed by the recurring theme of unprovoked attacks and left comments expressing their shock. Some even mentioned encountering Olivia’s video just before or after watching Halley’s video.

“Why is the video of the other girl getting punched right before this?” one person questioned. Another remarked, “Was it the same freaking guy as the other girl? I’m so confused why this keeps happening.”

The repeated occurrences of such incidents raise concerns and prompt further questions about the safety of pedestrians in the city.

The series of similar videos circulating on TikTok has sparked a conversation about the importance of staying vigilant and aware of one’s surroundings at all times.

TikToker Taylor Paré contributed to this dialogue by sharing her observations and recounting her own experience of being randomly punched in NYC last year.

“Three different videos of girls getting punched in the face for being on their phones in New York. What’s going on?” she began her video. “It reminded me of last year when I got punched in the face because I was on my phone in Union Square. And you don’t see it coming, and all of a sudden you just think to yourself, what just happened.”

She described how she confronted the individual who assaulted her, expressing her disbelief and shock at the situation.

“When this stuff happens to you, you have such a delayed reaction and response,” she continued. “You think that you’d be alert, you’d be up to scrap. No. You’re just kind of in shock that someone would put their hands on you in such a vulnerable moment.”

Paré then urged her audience to be more alert and refrain from using their phones while walking down the street.

“Actually what we need to do is encourage proactive bystanders, not further regulate women’s existence in public spaces. People just stand and stare. That’s the problem,” one viewer shared in the comments.

Another commenter pointed out the disturbing trend of exclusively targeting women in these incidents. “Yet I haven’t heard one dude being punched for being on his phone. It’s ridiculous how many men just buck up to women and women alone.”

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/why-women-getting-punched-face-143007131.html