Nikita Dragun’s rep slams Miami-Dade county jail for placing the social media influencer in the men’s jail following her arrest.
Here is everything you need to know.
Nikita Dragun’s rep opens up about the influencer’s experience in jail
Nikita Dragun’s public relations representative Jack Ketsoyan released a statement following the release of the 26-year-old YouTuber.
In the statement, Ketsoyan talked about how the influencer was treated by the Miami-Dade County Corrections Department while she was detained.
He said, ‘The situation with Nikita, who is legally female, being placed in a men’s unit of a Florida jail is extremely disturbing and dangerous.’
Moreover, he noted, ‘This decision made by the Miami-Dade County Corrections Department directly violates their protocol. It mandates that transgender inmates are classified and housed based on safety needs and gender identity.’
Ketsoyan concluded the statement with, ‘Nikita has been released and is now safe. Thank you for respecting her privacy during this time.’
Additionally, Dragun was taken into custody after supposedly causing disturbances at The Goodtime Hotel in South Beach.
She was charged with two counts of misdemeanors of disorderly conduct and battery. It also included one felony battery on a police officer.
However, during the court proceedings, it was revealed that the content creator was being held in the men’s section of the prison.
In the viral video, Dragun can be seen asking whether she has to stay in the men’s lockup. However, the judge replies by saying that he does not make rules.
If you didn’t know, Dragun has been using she/her pronouns since 2015 amid her transition.
Regardless, Nikita Dragun’s rep confirmed that the content creator was released from prison on Wednesday after paying a $5000 bond.
Social media users react to authorities misgendering Nikita Dragun
Netizens have called the situation transphobic. Several people admitted that while she has a controversial history, her human rights shouldn’t be abused like this.
One user said, ‘You really don’t need to state how much you don’t like Nikita Dragun before sympathizing with her for being placed in a men’s prison.’
In addition, another noted, ‘Nikita Dragun is facing a human rights violation by being put in a men’s jail. I don’t think that at this moment, whether or not you personally like her is the point.’
Someone else chimed in saying, ‘So Nikita Dragun has been put in a men’s jail and I think it is important to remind folks that this kind of treatment is tantamount to sentencing a trans woman to be serially raped.’