An online fundraiser has raised almost $100,000 to support a gay father facing criminal charges following a confrontation with a right‑wing influencer.
The donations were raised to help cover legal costs for David Vulin, who was arrested and charged with a felony after a filmed altercation in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. The incident occurred after he and his husband, Anthony Vulin, were approached by conservative media personality Ryley Niemi, known for producing confrontational “street interview” videos focused on culture‑war issues, particularly LGBTQ+ rights, parenting and gender politics, while walking with their newborn baby.
According to the GoFundMe campaign, Niemi and a small camera crew claimed to be journalists and began questioning the couple about their family, making remarks that supporters and LGBTQ+ advocates have condemned as inflammatory and deliberately provocative. Video of the encounter shows the influencer asking the couple whether they were aware of what he described as “statistics” involving gay men and child safety, and questioning their use of surrogacy .
Anthony Vulin said the tone of the questioning left the family distressed. “We were targeted in a way that was deeply upsetting and destabilising for our family,” he wrote in the fundraising appeal. He added that the couple had fought hard to build their family and that the encounter made an already vulnerable period overwhelming.
After attempting to walk away from the confrontation, tensions escalated and David Vulin pushed the influencer. He was later arrested, held for around 12 hours, and charged with felony vandalism over alleged damage to camera equipment valued at more than $400. The charge is being disputed by the family, who argue the figure is exaggerated and that the incident was engineered to provoke a reaction.
Niemi has claimed he attempted to de‑escalate the situation, but critics argue the questioning followed a pattern of “gotcha” tactics used in social media videos that target minority groups for engagement and outrage.
The fundraising campaign quickly exceeded its initial target, with thousands of small donations made within days. Supporters said the money would be used to secure legal representation and to support the family while the case proceeds.
“As a result of this altercation, my husband is now facing a complex legal process and the cost of proper legal defence is significant,” Anthony Vulin wrote. “David is a devoted parent and an incredibly important part of our lives”.
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