A Maryland hairstylist is now facing legal trouble after a viral video showed her dragging a 15-year-old client across a salon floor. The incident happened after the teen allegedly tried to leave without paying for her $150 hair appointment.
The stylist, 18-year-old Jayla Cunningham, recorded and shared the video online. In the footage, she can be seen pulling the teen by her hood and throwing her to the ground.
Cunningham was also heard telling the girl to sit and wait for the payment to come through. Later in the video, she is seen cutting the hair extension she had installed.
According to Cunningham, the teen attempted to leave without paying. She explained that she had to bring the client back inside to ensure she got paid.
However, the teen’s mother told FOX 5 that her daughter had mistakenly sent the money to the wrong account and was trying to fix the issue.
Cunningham is now charged with second-degree assault. She believes she had no other choice, saying, “If I didn’t do that, she would have been gone, and I wouldn’t have been paid.” She also mentioned that she has a witness to support her side of the story.
After the video went viral, Cunningham started receiving threats and decided to move her salon. Meanwhile, the teen’s family has hired a law firm to represent her.
Attorney De’Aja Thompson, who represents the teen, called the video “horrendous” and said the situation could have been avoided. She explained that this case highlights the dangers of people taking the law into their own hands.
“This is a 15-year-old girl. A child. She was dragged across the salon over a simple mistake,” Thompson said. She also noted that the teen suffered both physical and emotional harm, while Cunningham now faces criminal charges that could have serious consequences.
This incident has sparked a debate about how businesses should handle unpaid services. While the stylist believed she was protecting her work, many argue that her actions were too extreme. As the legal process unfolds, both families will be looking for justice in their own way.
