An American influencer has admitted assaulting a woman at a London Underground station, prosecutors have informed a court. Melissa Rein Lively, a 40-year-old US national, accepted a conditional caution, leading to the withdrawal of the assault by beating charge against her, Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told.
Incident at Bond Street Station
The incident occurred on October 11 last year at Bond Street Underground station, where Rein Lively pulled a woman’s hair in a “forceful manner.” Prosecutor Lyndon Harris stated, “Ms Lively has accepted a conditional caution in response to the allegation against her. That involved an admission to the conduct alleged against her and acknowledgement it amounts to an offence, and she has agreed to pay £910 in compensation.”
However, the court heard that Rein Lively has not yet paid the compensation, which is due in July. The 40-year-old, who describes herself as the founder of an “anti-woke” PR firm called America First PR on her Instagram page, did not appear in court for the brief hearing on Tuesday morning.
Co-defendant Pleads Not Guilty
Rein Lively was accused alongside Philipp Ostermann, 37, who faces two racially aggravated public order offences and a further public order offence against two alleged victims. Ostermann, dressed in a white shirt and dark suit, pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
Prosecutors detailed that two sisters were walking towards the underground station, one of them pushing a pushchair with her two children. The sisters noticed Ostermann and Rein Lively ahead, appearing to be kissing. “It appeared to one of the sisters that Mr Ostermann and Ms Lively may have been intoxicated,” Mr Harris said.
Rein Lively then stumbled into the pushchair, prompting the sister holding it to push back. Allegedly, Ostermann racially abused the pair, saying, “You bloody Indians, watch where you’re going, you shouldn’t be here.” The sister responded, “She fell over my sister’s pushchair, we are not even Indian, stop being racist.”
Rein Lively then pulled the hair of one of the sisters, grabbing and tugging it forcefully. The sister retaliated by grabbing Rein Lively’s hair to make her release. Ostermann was granted unconditional bail and ordered to appear at City of London Magistrates’ Court on November 17 for trial.
