A prominent MAGA influencer, once considered for the role of President Donald Trump’s press secretary, has admitted to assaulting a woman while vacationing in London with her partner, marking a significant downfall for the glamorous figure.
Melissa Rein Lively, a political strategist and the founder of America First PR, a firm opposing ‘woke’ culture, confessed on Tuesday to pulling a woman’s hair in what authorities labeled a racially charged incident at a London Underground station last year.
Following a widely publicized ordeal that tarnished her public image, the 40-year-old agreed to a conditional caution regarding the confrontation, as a London court was informed.
By admitting her actions and agreeing to compensate the victim approximately $1,200, Rein Lively—who was not present at the court session—had her assault charge dismissed.
Despite this, she quickly criticized those she felt had exaggerated the event, calling it a ‘minor incident’ blown into a ‘months-long international spectacle driven by sensationalism, misinformation, and public hysteria.’
The dramatic episode unfolded as Rein Lively, currently separated but not officially divorced, enjoyed a European getaway with her German banker boyfriend, Philipp Ostermann, 37, last fall.
The female victim told cops she was entering the Bond Street station with her sister and two young children when the incident unfolded on October 11 at around 7.30pm.
Rein Lively and her beau were kissing and appeared to be drunk when she allegedly stumbled into the stroller – leading the victim to push back with it, the court heard.
Melissa Rein Lively, a married MAGA influencer who was once tapped to be President Trump’s press secretary, admitted on Tuesday to assaulting a woman in London while vacationing with her lover
The saga erupted when Rein Lively, who is separated but not yet divorced, was lapping it up with her German banker boyfriend, Philipp Ostermann, 37, in Europe last fall
The MAGA influencer and her beau were hit with charges last month after police blasted out this photo of them in connection to the incident
The woman alleged Rein Lively’s lover started hurling racial abuse at her, screaming ‘You bloody Indians, watch where you’re going, you shouldn’t be here.’
It wasn’t immediately clear what race the women were.
Rein Lively is said to have then pulled the hair of the woman’s sister and made lewd gestures at the family.
When the victim tried to defend herself, Ostermann – an associate director of a Munich-based private equity firm called Aequita – allegedly pulled out a small bottle of what he claimed to be pepper spray, cops said.
The MAGA influencer was hit with an assault charge last month after police blasted out a photo of her and her well-dressed beau in connection to the incident.
It sparked a frenzy online when Rein Lively’s identity – and colorful past – was unmasked.
Rein Lively, who hails from Scottsdale, Arizona, made headlines back in 2020 when she filmed herself trashing a display of Covid masks in a Target as she boasted about her $40,000 Rolex watch.
At the time, she tried to pin her behavior on a mental health breakdown that she insisted was triggered by viewing QAnon conspiracy theories.
Melissa Rein Lively, a married MAGA influencer who was once tapped to be President Trump’s press secretary, admitted on Tuesday to assaulting a woman in London while vacationing with her lover
Rein Lively, who hails from Scottsdale, Arizona, had made headlines back in 2020 when she filmed herself trashing a display of Covid masks in a Target as she boasted about her $40,000 Rolex watch
The 40-year-old political consultant and founder of the ‘anti-woke’ America First PR firm admitted to yanking the woman’s hair in what cops had pegged as a racially motivated attack
Her now-estranged husband, Jared Lively, who she married in 2011, filed for divorce in the wake of the Target incident but later withdrew the filing after the influencer sought help.
Then, he filed for divorce again in March last year, stating that the marriage was ‘irretrievably broken’ and has ‘no reasonable prospect of reconciliation.’
Much of the blame, he argued, was due to Rein Lively’s ‘wasteful spending.’
Rein Lively, for her part, has previously bragged of showing her support for Trump with her face by adopting the ‘MAGA look’ of blonde hair, veneers and Botox. She noted, too, that she sees Trump’s daughter Ivanka and his daughter-in-law Lara as role models.
Her Instagram snaps over the past few years show she has been lapping up a lavish life of high-end dining, designer clothing and jewelry.
Rein Lively’s social media is also inundated with loved-up photos with her boyfriend as they jet-set across the globe.
She has largely been silent on Instagram in the wake of the latest assault saga. The influencer resurfaced on Tuesday following the latest court hearing.
Rein Lively boasted of showing her support for Trump with her face by adopting the ‘MAGA look’ of blonde hair, veneers and Botox
The MAGA influencer’s boyfriend still has to answer to two racially aggravated public order offenses and a further public order charge over the incident
‘I am pleased that the charge in this matter has been withdrawn and the case formally resolved through an out-of-court disposition under UK law,’ Rein Lively fired off in a statement on social media.
‘Last October, I was involved in a minor incident in Mayfair involving a woman pushing a stroller that struck me on Bond Street. Because related legal proceedings are still ongoing, I cannot comment further on the underlying facts at this time.
‘What I can say is this: the material facts are dramatically different from what circulated in the media – and the the risk of distraction theft and robbery on London streets is real, significant, and dangerous.’
‘After traveling to more than 110 countries, few places have shown a more rapid decline in public safety than the UK in recent years. Americans traveling there should remain extremely vigilant – or consider alternative destinations altogether. London is no longer safe,’ she added.
Her boyfriend, meanwhile, still has to answer to two racially aggravated public order offenses and a further public order charge.
