Women in New York are facing a wave of unprovoked attacks as many report being randomly punched by strangers while walking around the streets.
The trend came to light after a viral video captured the assault on social media influencer Halley Kate in broad daylight.
Kate's video, documenting her sudden attack, set off a tidal wave of other women coming forward with similar experiences.
Since its upload on Monday morning, numerous others have stepped forward, shedding light on a concerning trend of random violence in Manhattan.
Among those sharing their stories is TikTok personality Mikayla Toninato, whose video detailing her own assault has amassed over 7.4 million views.
Toninato recounted being struck while walking home from class, caught off guard as she glanced at her phone. "I don't know if this is a thing that's going around," she said.
Warning her followers, Toninato emphasized the importance of vigilance, urging them to remain attentive to their surroundings.
Another victim, Olivia Brand, shared her experience in a video posted on March 17, describing a similar encounter.
The incidents continued to mount as Selena Pikanab, a popular TikTok star, recalled her own experience.
"Getting punched in NYC was not on my agenda today," Pikanab said in her video, revealing the assault occurred during daylight hours.
Concern rippled through social media as users expressed shock and dismay at the escalating number of attacks. Comments flooded in, reflecting a mix of fear and outrage at the alarming trend.
One woman said: "It happened to me as well, a whole slap because he didn't like my hat," while a second said: "This happened to my mom. Be safe out in NYC."
A third person said: "Women the sooner or later they’re gonna need guards just to walk around that’s ridiculous. Somebody needs to be beat."
A fourth added: "Happened to me in LA. File a police report and go get a CT scan. I’m sorry this happened!"
According to the Daily Mail, the New York Police Department confirmed that Kate had filed a complaint following her assault, detailing the incident that occurred in Manhattan.
Despite ongoing investigations, no arrests have been made in connection with the assaults.
Kate shared the aftermath of the attack, revealing visible injuries and expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support from her followers.
She emphasized the importance of not letting fear dictate one's life while acknowledging the need for heightened awareness in navigating urban environments.
This trend in NYC is pretty alarming - make sure to stay safe out there!