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16 June 2026

West Hollywood parents raise funds after confrontation with right-wing influencer

A West Hollywood couple say a provocative encounter with an influencer escalated during a family walk, prompting an arrest, controversy over alleged equipment damage and a fast-growing fundraiser

West Hollywood parents raise funds after confrontation with right-wing influencer

The incident involved David Miller-Robinson and Anthony Vulin, a same-sex couple who were walking with their infant along Santa Monica Boulevard when they say a camera crew approached them, claiming to represent CNN. According to video posted by the crew’s host, conservative commentator Ryley Niemi questioned the parents with inflammatory lines about child safety and made a false generalization that “gay men are statistically much more likely to commit child molestation.” The interaction became tense as the influencer repeatedly pressed about their family structure, surrogacy and motives; Vulin was holding the baby during portions of the exchange and the parents appear visibly alarmed by the questioning.

The confrontation and how it escalated

When the couple attempted to walk away, the video shows a physical contact moment: Miller-Robinson, who had been guiding a stroller, pushed back against Niemi and later struck the influencer in the back of the head. Bystanders and two private security guards moved in and another man in the crowd repeatedly urged the camera crew to leave and issued threats toward the lingering group. The clip posted by Niemi captures the provocation and the immediate reaction, but it does not include clear evidence to support every claim that followed. Observers have debated whether the parents’ response was defensive or disproportionate,

Author

Anna Innocenti

Anna Innocenti retrieved recordings of the Verona city council for a dossier after a night in the archives; collaborates on breaking coverage with historical analysis and proposes themed columns. Graduate of the Verona campus, participates in local roundtables on urban memory.