Bethenny Frankel Says She Was Punched on the Streets of NYC By a Random Attacker

Just days after young women began taking to TikTok to share their stories of being randomly punched in the face on the streets of New York City, Bethenny Frankel has joined the chorus.

The Real Housewives of New York City OG didn’t make her own video but commented on another young woman’s story of assault, “This is insane bc this happened to me a few months ago but I was embarrassed to say. I was on the UWS [Upper West Side]. Insane. I was taking video of a bakery.” Curiously, the comment, which was captured by Page Six, has since been deleted. Frankel has made no other comment.

It’s unclear right now whether and how these attacks are connected. Some point to the “knockout game” trend as an explanation, and there has been at least one arrest in connection with a related assault. Though young women seem to be the most common victims of this type of attack, it’s very possible that other victims simply aren’t as likely to share their experiences via TikTok.

“Someone approached me when I was looking down and then just walked away,” one victim told Glamour of the disorienting incident. “It happened so fast. I was just like, ‘What? Did that happen? Or is it like, I’m just dreaming?’ I was so shocked. I was completely focused on my phone. I was not aware of my surroundings, which was not good.”

There has also been a spate of violent crimes on the NYC subway recently, and while women deserve to feel safe and generally go through life unbothered no matter what, it may be worth remembering some basic safety recommendations: Don’t get too distracted by your phone, don’t stand right near the subway platform, and file a police report if someone attempts to harm you on the street.