US 'anti-woke' influencer admits pulling woman's hair in Tube station assault

An American influencer has admitted assaulting a woman in an incident at a London Underground station.

In May, US national Melissa Rein Lively was charged with assault by beating, while German national Philipp Ostermann, 37, was charged with two racially aggravated public order offences and a further public order offence.

Lively accepted a conditional caution - an out-of-court agreement in which the defendant admits guilt and pays compensation.

As a result, the assault by beating charge against her was withdrawn, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Lyndon Harris told the court Lively has also agreed to pay £910 in compensation.

The incident occurred at Bond Street Underground station on the evening of 11 October last year, British Transport Police said.

Lively pulled the woman's hair in a "forceful manner", the court was told.

Mr Harris told the court: "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".

The 40-year-old, who is the founder of "anti-woke" PR firm America First PR, according to her Instagram page, did not appear in court.

Ostermann, who sat in seats in front of the dock, pleaded not guilty to the three charges against him.

Prosecutors said the incident unfolded when two sisters, accompanied by two of their children, were walking towards the Underground station and noticed Ostermann and Lively ahead.

The pair appeared to be kissing, and one of the sisters observed that they "may have been intoxicated", prosecutors said.

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Lively then appeared to stumble into a pushchair that one of them was pushing.

It is alleged Ostermann then racially abused the pair, saying: "You bloody Indians, watch where you're going, you shouldn't be here."

"The sister said words to the effect of 'She fell over my sister's pushchair, we are not even Indian, stop being racist'," Mr Harris said.

The court heard Lively then pulled the hair of one of the sisters, grabbing it and tugging it in a forceful manner.

The sister grabbed Lively's hair back to get her to release, prosecutors said.

Lively has not yet paid the compensation, which is due in July, the court heard.

Ostermann was freed on unconditional bail and told to return to City of London Magistrates' Court on 17 November to face trial.

(c) Sky News 2026: US 'anti-woke' influencer admits pulling woman's hair in Tube station assault