David Vulin will not face criminal charges following the April confrontation in West Hollywood in which he punched anti-LGBTQ influencer Ryley Niemi.
For David and his husband, Anthony Vulin, the development brings relief after an encounter that turned a walk with their infant son into a widely circulated video and a costly legal ordeal.
According to LGBTQ Nation, David completed a pre-filing diversion agreement.
The details of that agreement have not been disclosed by his attorney, R.J. Dreiling.
A Family Walk Became Viral Content
The couple say Niemi’s team approached them claiming to represent CNN.
What followed was an interview involving hostile questions about their parenting and their son, Ante.
Footage of the encounter showed David shoving Niemi and, in a subsequent confrontation, punching him.
The incident happened in April; the news this week concerns the decision that criminal charges will not be filed following diversion.
PinkNews reported that the district attorney’s office confirmed that outcome on October 22.
This was not an acquittal after a trial or a judicial finding that the punches were justified.
The Family Behind the Footage
Anthony’s GoFundMe appeal offered a more personal account of what the aftermath meant for two new fathers.
He described an upsetting encounter in their own neighborhood and the strain of facing legal expenses while caring for a newborn.
His appeal focused on keeping the family stable, supported and together, and on securing fair legal representation for David.
He also described how hard they had worked to build their life and welcome their baby, making the disruption especially painful.
The fundraiser has drawn more than $212,000 in donations, a substantial response to the family’s request for help with attorney fees and related costs.
Looking Toward Change
The couple now say they want a constructive outcome beyond the resolution of David’s criminal exposure.
They say Anthony is working with state lawmakers on a bill aimed at holding rage-bait creators accountable for harm.
That remains a reported legislative effort, rather than an enacted protection.
Niemi has said he may still pursue a civil lawsuit, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The broader question for LGBTQ families is painfully familiar: whether an ordinary moment in public can remain ordinary when someone sees an opportunity to turn their lives into an online spectacle.
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