TikTok exec slashed in face on NYC subway, sues MTA for 'systemic negligence'

A TikTok executive who got slashed in the face by a stranger on a New York City subway is suing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for what he describes as "systemic negligence." The attack, which left him with severe physical and psychological scars, occurred on May 10, 2023, while he was commuting on a southbound C train in Brooklyn.

Gideon Moncrieffe, who worked as TikTok's head of global event production at the time of the attack, says the traumatic incident has caused him to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, including nightmares, depression, and flashbacks. At the time, Moncrieffe was engaged to the “love of his life” and had a promising career.

According to Moncrieffe, the confrontation began when he attempted to intervene in an argument between Sean Lewis, a man with a history of violence, and an older, intoxicated rider. Moncrieffe told the New York Post that he warned Lewis about the dangers of aggression on the subway, referencing the then-recent high-profile case of Daniel Penny.

“I said look, somebody was killed on the train two weeks ago, they were choked out because someone proceeded to be aggressive,” Moncrieffe explained. Lewis initially responded with a “thank you” but then slashed Moncrieffe across the face with a sharp object, leaving him with an eight-inch wound that required over 100 stitches to close.

According to the outlet, the reason why Lewis was banned from the transit system was unclear. However, Lewis has a long history of violence, including nine arrests between 2016 and 2021. Past accusations against Lewis include choking and threatening his girlfriend with a knife and assaulting employees at a homeless shelter.

Moncrieffe’s lawsuit alleges that the MTA’s negligence played a significant role in enabling the attack. He claims the train conductor locked the doors during the altercation, leaving him confined with Lewis. The lawsuit describes the attack as the “foreseeable result of systemic negligence by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which failed to enforce its own safety policies, respond to emergencies, and protect its passengers from foreseeable harm.”

The filing further argues that the MTA did not take sufficient steps to ensure passenger safety, despite an uptick in subway violence. Moncrieffe states that the trauma from the attack has caused his relationship with his fiancée to unravel and has “shattered his personal happiness and dreams of building a life with his partner.” He is seeking unspecified damages and urging the court to mandate MTA to have “consistent enforcement of its prohibited rider policy,” “sufficient security personnel” and “improved emergency response protocols.”

In August, Lewis pleaded guilty to the assault and was sentenced to seven years in prison. However, the MTA disputes claims that Lewis was banned from the subway at the time of the incident.

“The perpetrator in this case had not been banned prior to this incident… nor would he have been eligible to be banned because of it,” said MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper in a statement. “The MTA has advocated for changes that would give DA’s more latitude to request a ban and judges more opportunity to implement transit bans.”