UPDATE: The West Hollywood Sheriff’s office is disputing McSwiggan’s claim, saying he inflicted his injuries himself in a jail cell after being arrested for vandalizing a car. -editor
LGBTQ and lifestyle Youtuber Calum McSwiggan recently posted an image on Instagram of himself in hospital gear, detailing what he calls “the worst night of my life.” Over the weekend, McSwiggan attended VidCon, a conference in Anaheim that brings together online video creators, fans, and members of the industry. They also hosts events like “So You Want to Be an LGBTQ Creator” and advertise themselves as a “safe place” with a strong code of conduct.
After going to a gay club to celebrate, the London-based Youtuber was separated from his friends and attacked by thee men. McSwiggan writes that after the attack, law enforcement was unhelpful and treated him “like a second class citizen.”
McSwiggan’s Youtube channel consists of humorous, candid, and LGBTQ content and vlogs like “The Gay Agenda,” his reaction to the Orlando shooting, and “The Lies Depression Tells You.” He says, however, that he’s not yet at a moment where he feels prepared to talk about the incident.
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With three broken teeth and six stitches in my forehead, I’ve never felt so terrified to be a gay man in the public eye. All I can do is thank my wonderful friends @riyadhk, @melaniiemurphyand @douga_ for being with me the whole way. I’d be lost without them. Right now I don’t feel that I’m in the right place to talk about this but I will be addressing this fully in the future.
On Twitter, a friend of McSwiggan’s and another Youtuber Riyadh Khalaf added that the attack was premeditated.
https://twitter.com/RiyadhK/status/747617646284181504
https://twitter.com/RiyadhK/status/747617995036364801
Last week, a transgender individual named Michael Volz was assaulted by an attacker who allegedly said “Hey, happy Pride!” before attacking them. Volz’s statement, that “This is something that occurs far too often,” and the history of inaction on the part of the city and state ring very true in this incident at well.
Fortunately, the incident will not stop McSwiggan from making content. His friends and fans have posted messages of support as the Youtuber recovers. You can read the original post below: