A prominent American ‘Maga’ influencer has accepted a conditional caution after admitting to assaulting a woman at Bond Street tube station in London. Melissa Rein Lively, 40, founder of the ‘anti-woke’ America First Public Relations firm, pulled a woman’s hair in a ‘forceful manner’ during an altercation on 11 October last year.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that as part of the caution, Rein Lively admitted the conduct constituted a criminal offence and agreed to pay £910 in compensation to the victim. A charge of assault by beating was subsequently withdrawn. The compensation is due in July but has not yet been paid. Rein Lively did not attend the hearing.
Prosecutor Lyndon Harris told the court the incident occurred as two sisters walked towards the station with their children, one in a pushchair. They noticed Rein Lively and a man, later identified as German national Philipp Ostermann, ahead of them. Harris said it appeared to one sister that Rein Lively may have been intoxicated.
Rein Lively allegedly stumbled into the pushchair, causing the woman pushing it to move back. She then grabbed one sister by the hair and tugged it. The woman retaliated by pulling Rein Lively’s hair to make her let go. Ostermann, 37, pleaded not guilty to three charges, including two racially aggravated public order offences. He was granted unconditional bail and will face trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court in November.
