Last week, we reported that a subway rider was captured on video in the middle of verbally harassing a transgender woman named Pearl Love.
Now, that woman — who admits she used racist, homophobic, transphobic slurs against Love – is coming forward, but she says she’s not ready to apologize yet.
Talking to PIX11 News, Sarah Eldridge said, “Don’t judge me unless you know me.”
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The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Related: Disturbing footage captures trans woman assaulted on New York subway
Eldridge claims the encounter escalated because Love wouldn’t stop recording:
“When I stepped on the train, I sat down and I had an attitude because I was robbed earlier that week in the Bronx,” she says.
“I meant what I said. That person offended me in a way. That person was, to me, explicit. To me, too much. To me, I couldn’t stand it. To me, this is not fair to me.”
“I’ve received death threats on Facebook, by several people, saying that they want to find me. They want to kill me and I have deactivated my Facebook at this point. I’ve called police.”
Asked when she planned to apologize, Eldridge says, ” I don’t think it’s that time yet. I need time.”
When asked if she would apologize should she cross paths with Love again, Eldridge was unsure.
She’s currently seeking therapy over the incident.
The incident isn’t being investigated — Pearl Love hasn’t filed a report, and she’s not sure she will.
She says it’s enough for people to be able to see the experience through her eyes — and see that nobody came to her defense on a crowded Harlem train.
Watch the report below:
Here’s the original subway footage:
