Maryland hairstylist seen dragging 15-year-old client in viral video speaks out: 'She ran'
A Maryland hairstylist, 18-year-old Jayla Cunningham, has been charged with assault after posting a viral video that captured her dragging a 15-year-old client across her salon during a dispute over payment. The video, which has amassed over 54 million views, depicts Cunningham yelling at the teenager and threatening further violence, claiming she was trying to flee without paying for a $150 service involving a hair weave.
The incident escalated when Cunningham claimed the teen attempted to leave without settling the bill. In the video, Cunningham is seen pulling the girl by her hoodie and eventually cutting the weave out of her hair with scissors. "I dragged her by her hood back into the salon until I could get paid," Cunningham explained, defending her actions as necessary to prevent the girl from escaping without payment.
However, the teenager's mother provided a different perspective, stating that her daughter was traumatized by the experience and that Cunningham had also yanked her hair during the confrontation. She contends that her child's attempt to leave was due to a mistake in sending payment to the wrong CashApp account, not a deliberate effort to skip out on the bill. The mother's grievance has led to a police report being filed against Cunningham.
Cunningham has expressed surprise about the charges and mentioned she would present a witness to support her claims. Amid the backlash, she has reportedly received death threats on social media and is now worried for her safety. The family of the teenager has taken legal action by hiring a law firm to pursue a civil lawsuit against Cunningham.
Cunningham now faces a second-degree assault charge and has been summoned to appear in court on April 18. Attorney De'Aja Thompson, representing the teen, emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting that it involved a minor being mistreated over a payment error, illustrating the need for accountability in such incidents.