A New York City woman who was allegedly pushed off a subway platform by a stranger last month says attending Gwen Stefani concerts helped prepare her to properly react to the assault.
The Brooklyn resident discussed the September attack during a recent interview with Fox 5 New York. The 22-year-old told the news outlet she was punched by a random man after getting off a train at the Crown Heights train station. The perpetrator then allegedly pushed her onto the tracks, per Fox News.
The victim explained that as she was lying there, she thought about pulling herself onto the stage at multiple Gwen Stefani concerts, including a recent Las Vegas performance. She said since the stage and the subway platform were a similar height, it was ultimately her Stefani fandom that helped in the moment.
“It’s because Gwen’s called me on stage so many times,” the victim explained. “That’s why my body knew what to do.”
Though she was able to pull herself up to safety, the woman admits she still has nightmares about the attack. “Being in the tracks, that’s what gives me nightmares,” she told Fox 5. “That was the most scary thing of my life.”
The crime is still being investigated, the publication noted. The New York City resident says she’s still using the subway for transportation despite what happened. But she doesn’t feel safe doing so.
“I just think everybody that looks at me is gonna hurt me,” the anonymous woman said. “That’s what’s changed about me, I don’t trust anyone anymore. I think everyone’s going to hurt me now.”
Unfortunately, crimes like these are becoming more frequent in the city. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) admitted earlier this year that he does not feel safe taking the subway. “On day one, I took the subway system, I felt unsafe. I saw homeless everywhere,” he said, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
“People were yelling on the trains. There was a feeling of disorder. So as we deal with the crime problem, we also have to deal with the fact people feel unsafe.”
Monthly felony assaults had risen year-over-year by 15% at the end of 2021, while murder had increased by 42% over a two-year period. Bank of America reportedly told New York City employees to “dress down” during their commutes to reduce the risk of attack.
In January, a 40-year-old woman named Michelle Go was killed after being pushed in front of a train at the Times Square Station, per Reuters. This month another man was pushed in front of an oncoming train in a random attack but was saved by onlookers who pulled him back onto the platform. And over the weekend, two more subway riders reportedly fell onto the tracks in separate incidents. According to authorities, one was pushed, and the other was punched in the back of the head before falling off the platform.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to install cameras in all New York City subway cars, which will cost $3.5 million.