Police arrested a Long Island, N.Y., man on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting V. Stiviano, who became the center of media attention following her recordings of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling allegedly making racist comments about black people, which ultimately led to his lifelong ban from the NBA, Reuters reports.
Dominick Dorio, a resident of Old Bethpage, has been charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment, Reuters reports. Dorio allegedly punched Stiviano in her face as she left a restaurant near the Gansevoort Hotel in New York on Sunday, leaving her face red and swollen. According to Stiviano’s lawyer, Mac Nehoray, Stiviano was punched multiple times and was subjected to racial slurs.
According to the news site, the New York Police Department is still investigating the incident.
Stiviano has been caught up in a media whirlwind over the past few months, following shocking recordings of Sterling allegedly reprimanding her for hanging out with black people and asking her not to bring blacks to his games.
The 80-year-old team owner was banned for life from the NBA following the controversial recording and fined $2.5 million. Although the NBA has been pushing for the Clippers to be sold, and reports claim that an agreement to do so has been reached, Sterling is fighting tooth and nail, suing the league for $1 billion, and contesting the decision.
Sterling, however, wasn’t the only one taken to task for things said. The assault occurred mere days after video footage surfaced showing Stiviano mocking blacks.
Read more at Reuters.