A crowdfunding campaign for a gay father who was arrested following a violent altercation triggered by a homophobic “street interview” has raised more than £170,000 ($170,000) to support his legal battle.
David Vulin now faces a felony charge after he and his husband, Anthony Vulin, were lured into what they believed was a legitimate interview, only for it to turn into a hostile, right-wing ambush. The incident culminated in David punching the interviewer.
Video footage posted online shows MAGA influencer Ryley Niemi approaching Anthony and David Vulin as they walked through West Hollywood with their baby. Niemi initially claimed to be from CNN before launching a series of aggressive questions about the couple raising a child.
Among the questions, Niemi asked: “Have you ever heard about the statistics coming out that gay men are much more likely to commit child molestation?” He also demanded: “Don’t you think it’s weird that you guys have a child but neither of you are a woman?” and later added: “You paid a woman $50,000 to be pregnant?”
David Vulin was subsequently charged with felony vandalism, relating to alleged damage to camera equipment valued at £400 or more. The couple strongly disputes this accusation.
In a statement, Anthony Vulin explained: “My husband, David, is now facing a legal process, and the cost of securing proper representation is significant. David is a devoted parent to our newborn baby and an incredibly important part of our lives. Right now, our focus is simply on keeping our family stable, supported, and together as we move through this. We’re asking for help to cover legal fees and related expenses so that he can have fair representation during this time.”
Meanwhile, Niemi’s own crowdfunding effort, which he set up “to help us recover from this incident, replace essential equipment, and get back to full capacity safely as quickly as possible,” has failed to reach £2,000, falling well short of its £9,000 target.
Since the Vulin family’s GoFundMe page attracted widespread attention, Anthony Vulin has shared a heartwarming update, expressing his surprise at the overwhelming response and thanking supporters from around the world.
“Because of all of you, we’ve been able to hire an attorney and start taking the proper steps to navigate this process. Your support has made a real and immediate difference. We wish we could give each and every one of you a hug. Please know how deeply grateful we are for your kindness and for showing up for us in this way,” he wrote.
