Maryland hairstylist Jayla Cunningham is currently facing a charge of second-degree assault after a video surfaced of her dragging a teenage client across the salon floor. The incident occurred when the client allegedly attempted to leave without paying for her appointment.
In the viral video posted online by Cunningham, she can be seen dragging the young client by her hood and then throwing her on the ground. Cunningham, who goes by Jayla Amora on social media, is heard demanding payment for the appointment before cutting out the weave she had installed in the teenager’s hair.
According to Cunningham, the service, including the weave, amounted to $150. She claimed that she had to drag the client back inside as she believed the client was trying to leave without paying. However, the teen’s mother explained that her daughter had mistakenly sent the money to the wrong account and was trying to rectify the error.
Cunningham now faces a second-degree assault charge, and it is unclear if she has legal representation. She mentioned having a witness to support her claims and revealed that she received death threats following the incident going viral, prompting her to relocate her salon.
The client’s family has hired a law firm to represent the teenager, calling the video of the incident “horrendous.” The family’s attorney emphasized that the situation resulted from a mistake and expressed concern for the emotional toll it has taken on the teenager.
The mother of the client described the incident as absurd and noted the widespread attention it had garnered. She shared her daughter’s emotional struggle in dealing with the aftermath of the incident.
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Article Update: Not good. In a recent Instagram Stories update on March 8, Cunningham reassured her followers, saying, “I’m okay y’all thank you, love y’all [sic].” According to court records seen by PEOPLE, Cunningham is scheduled for her initial court appearance at a preliminary inquiry on April 18. Please refer to the original People article for more information.
