VidCon fell on the same weekend as LGBT Pride this year, and like many out YouTubers, Calum McSwiggan was celebrating.
But the gay YouTube star’s Sunday night party—a sort of closing celebration for both VidCon and Pride month—was cut short when he said he was attacked and brutally beaten by three men outside of West Hollywood gay bar the Abbey.
Yet, the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department said Thursday that McSwiggan wasn’t beaten and was, in fact, arrested after he allegedly vandalized a car.
According to McSwiggan’s friend and fellow YouTuber Riyadh Kalaf, the alleged attack was not a random event. In a series of tweets, Kalaf said that the men referred to he and McSwiggan by name and had used their social media posts to locate them.
The Abbey, where the attack occurred, recently made news when the bar posted armed guards on the premises after the Orlando mass shooting.
McSwiggan posted a hospital photo to Instagram on Monday night, along with a description of the attack. He said he suffered three broken teeth and required six stitches in his head.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHKRFJ_g3-_/
Spooner called the sudden attack “a shocking end to a beautiful day of celebration.”
In multiple cities, this year’s pride month celebrations were tainted by fear and increased police presence after the Orlando shooting.
“I’ve never been so terrified,” McSwiggan wrote on Instagram, “to be a gay man in the public eye.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the blog WEHOville reported that McSwiggan’s claims contradicted those of West Hollywood Sheriff’s Capt. Holly Perez.
In a statement emailed to the Daily Dot, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said:
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has an affirmative duty to fully investigate all assaults and
reports of violence in our community. Deputies from West Hollywood Station responded to and
investigated the report by Calum McSwiggan that he was assaulted by three males after leaving a local
nightclub early Monday morning. Responding deputies were unable to substantiate the assault. Mr.
McSwiggan, who had no visible injuries, was subsequently arrested after deputies observed him
vandalizing a car in the 8900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. After being booked and photographed,
Mr. McSwiggan was placed into a cell by himself at West Hollywood Station. Mr. McSwiggan was then
observed injuring himself with the handle and receiver to a payphone inside the cell. Medical personnel
were summoned and Mr. McSwiggan was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Mr.
McSwiggan’s booking photo was taken prior to deputies seeing Mr. McSwiggan injuring himself.”
Here’s the mugshot released by police.
Did @CalumMcSwiggan fake a hate crime?WeHo police:yes & here's a booking photo sans injuries https://t.co/omcZsrLNFL pic.twitter.com/K2FAIb66wR
— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) June 28, 2016
Khalaf, though, is still backing McSwiggan.
I've been told to say nothing before court tomorrow but staying silent here is killing us. If you're a friend just DM me for the truth.
— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) June 29, 2016
Update 4:02pm CT, June 28: Includes West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department’s claims via WEHOville.
Update 8:30pm CT, June 28: Includes the full news release from the Sheriff’s Department’s and the responses from McSwiggan and Khalaf.