GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Prominent trans actress Jaylin Ye recovering after violent transphobic attack in London
– 2 min read
Jaylin Ye, a prominent trans actress, is recovering after a violent 'transphobic attack' near Balham Station in South London last week.
The incident occurred just after midnight on Thursday, 26 June, as Ye was returning home from a documentary screening in Soho. According to her statement on Instagram, she was assaulted by two strangers - a man and a woman - who dragged her to the ground, kicked her repeatedly, and screamed transphobic slurs, including “you f****** tr**ny”.
Ye, who made history as the first Chinese trans woman to portray a lead character on British TV, described losing a chunk of her hair and being left “covered in blood and bruises”. The attackers also robbed her before fleeing the scene. “I screamed for help but unfortunately no one was there,” she wrote. “It was one of the most brutal and traumatic things I’ve ever experienced in my life, but I am a survivor”.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage and support from the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. A GoFundMe campaign launched by her friends has already raised nearly £19,000 to support her recovery, including therapy, legal aid, and temporary relocation for safety
Ye is using her platform to raise awareness about the alarming rise in transphobic hate crimes in the UK, which have more than doubled in London over the past five years. She also pointed to the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of “woman” as a factor emboldening anti-trans sentiment.
“No one should ever be attacked because of their identity,” Ye said. “I want to use this moment to speak out - not just for myself, but for every trans person who has been made to feel unsafe simply for existing”
The Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident. No arrests have been made at this time.
