A former TikTok executive who was brutally attacked on a New York City subway is suing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), alleging its negligence played a role in the violent incident. The attack left Gideon Moncrieffe, TikTok’s head of global event production at the time, with severe physical and emotional scars.

The attack occurred on May 10, 2023, while Moncrieffe was riding a southbound C train in Brooklyn. He says the traumatic event, in which he was slashed across the face, has caused lasting psychological damage, including PTSD, nightmares, and depression. Moncrieffe was engaged and thriving in his career when the incident occurred, but he now says his life has been profoundly affected.

According to Moncrieffe, the altercation began when he attempted to de-escalate a heated exchange between Sean Lewis, a man with a violent history, and an older, intoxicated rider. Moncrieffe warned Lewis about the dangers of aggression on the subway, referencing the then-recent case of Daniel Penny. Initially, Lewis thanked him but then slashed him with a sharp object, leaving an eight-inch wound that required over 100 stitches.

Moncrieffe’s lawsuit claims the MTA failed to ensure passenger safety, arguing that the conductor locked the doors during the altercation, leaving him trapped with the attacker. The lawsuit describes the attack as the “foreseeable result of systemic negligence” by the MTA, alleging the agency failed to enforce safety policies, respond to emergencies, or adequately protect passengers from harm.

Sean Lewis had a criminal history that included nine arrests between 2016 and 2021, with accusations ranging from choking his girlfriend to assaulting homeless shelter employees. While the MTA disputes claims that Lewis had been banned from the subway, critics argue the agency’s policies failed to prevent the attack.

Moncrieffe is seeking damages and demanding changes to the MTA’s safety protocols, including consistent enforcement of prohibited rider policies, more security personnel, and better emergency responses. Despite Lewis’ guilty plea and seven-year prison sentence, Moncrieffe says his life has been irreparably changed, describing the attack as shattering his personal happiness and future plans with his fiancée.