British Transport Police have launched a public search for an American Maga influencer and her partner following an alleged racist assault and pepper spray attack on a mother and her children at a central London Underground station.
Assault at Bond Street Station
The incident occurred on 11 October 2025 at the bustling Bond Street station, located near iconic landmarks like Selfridges and Hyde Park. According to police, a pushchair carrying one of the victim's children accidentally collided with Melissa Rein Lively, 40.
A statement from the British Transport Police (BTP) details that Ms Rein Lively's companion, Philip Ostermann, then began shouting racial abuse at the 34-year-old victim and her family. The altercation escalated when Ms Rein Lively allegedly grabbed the victim's hair.
"When the victim tried to defend herself, the man pulled out a small bottle and said it was pepper spray before spraying it in the direction of the victim and her family," the police statement read. The woman then reportedly shouted further abuse and made lewd gestures before the couple left the area. The victim was accompanied by her sister and two young children.
Possessing pepper spray in the United Kingdom is a criminal offence and can carry a six-month prison sentence.
The 'Mar-a-Lago Face' Influencer and QAnon Past
Melissa Rein Lively is the Arizona-based owner of America First PR, a firm that describes itself as "America’s #1 Anti-Woke PR Firm." She is known for her distinctive appearance, which was featured in an article by French outlet AFP about the "Mar-a-Lago face" look—characterised by "long, blonde, wavy hair, heavy makeup and cosmetic injections."
She previously rocketed to fame as a member of the controversial QAnon movement, which promotes baseless conspiracy theories about a secret cabal of Satanic elites carrying out child sex abuse crimes. Ms Rein Lively later had a public falling out with the movement, telling Yahoo News she had been a victim of "digital brainwashing" and found "comfort" in QAnon's pandemic denial during 2020.
In a notable career moment, the 40-year-old battled for the role of Trump’s press secretary, ultimately losing out to Karoline Leavitt. "I’m a hair away from the White House," she told Politico at the time.
International Manhunt and Fallout
The BTP named the couple yesterday as the search for them intensifies. Intriguingly, Ms Rein Lively was listed to speak at a private equity conference at the Syon Park stately home near Heathrow on 14 October, just days after the alleged assault.
Philip Ostermann is the associate director of a Munich-based private equity firm called Aequita. At the time of writing, his profile page on the firm's website leads to a 404 error.
The Independent has contacted both the British Transport Police and America First PR for comment. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to locate the wanted pair.
