A social media influencer was left feeling "helpless" after allegedly being assaulted outside of a bar.
Shania Safaray was left with bruises after the incident, which she said occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning (October 31) at the Avan Lounge Restaurant and Shisha Bar in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. The social media star had been attending an event with a friend, after being invited by another pal. However, things took a turn when she was introduced to a man who claimed to know her from following her online.
After refusing to get into a taxi with him, Shania alleges that the man attacked her. The Avan Lounge has expressed sympathy for Shania's experience, and police have launched an investigation, although no arrests have been made. Speaking about the incident, Shania told the MEN: "It was very lowkey, we just stood at the bar, there were men asking us to go to their table but we said no, we're just going to stick together all night."
"When it was time to go, the friend that invited me said to come into a taxi with her," reports the Manchester Evening News. "So, we went near the front door, thinking we were going to go in the taxi with her and waited at a table. She brought a man around and referred to him as her 'best friend' and said she would 'trust her life with him', kind of forcing it."
"She left us with him, and he asked if I wanted any alcohol or balloons. I blanked him and my friend said no." After they declined his offer for drinks, the man allegedly grabbed her aggressively on the shoulder and muttered something she couldn't hear. In response, she firmly told him they wouldn't be sharing a taxi, sparking an argument.
"It got quite heated and he said not to talk to him like that and said, 'Do you know who I am?'" She continued. "I said, 'I don't give a f**k who you are, I'm not going into the taxi with you'. That's when he grabbed my hair. Hit my head off the ground and dragged me out from the table to the floor outside. I got up after what seemed like a while. There were 15 to 20, mostly men just standing there."
"My first reaction was to shout, and this one man held me back trying to calm me down and all the men just stood there and watched." Shania claims her attacker stayed in the club for another ten minutes and acted like 'nothing happened'. "I didn't think to call the police at that moment, but I was in shock."
She added: "I wanted to leave but he was at the door, so I didn't want to walk past him. So, I just waited in the corner until he left, he went home, and I went home after that." Reflecting on the harrowing event, Shania said she felt "powerless," saying: "I was angry because men are stronger and, in that situation, there was nothing I could do."
She added with frustration, "I felt very powerless and it's a feeling I hate as a woman. There were men standing around doing nothing as well." Shania also commented on the bystander effect she witnessed, stating, "This man was clearly in a position of some sort of power which is why they did nothing. I just kept thinking to myself how powerless I was."
Originally from Scotland, Shania, now a content creator based in Manchester, has taken her traumatic experience to her Instagram followers to raise awareness about the dangers women face within Manchester's nightlife, hoping that her assailant will be caught. She shared her intentions with the MEN: "When I posted that a lot of girls came forward to me saying they've shared very similar situations."
Shania recounted past encounters by claiming: "I've had similar situations; I've been followed home before and had aggressive behaviour from guys. I've lived in quite a few cities and I've never had it as bad as Manchester to be honest." She also criticised the illusion of safety in such environments, adding, "When you go to these places you feel like you're going to be safe because there's people at the door, but nothing ever happens."
The Scottish star expressed her concerns over the city’s after-dark safety: "Manchester is a very dangerous place at night and I think a lot of women are aware of that. My only goal is to bring awareness for other women, and give them a voice." And indeed, it seems her efforts have started making waves as she concluded, "And it's seems like it's already worked as women came forward to me immediately through DMs."
Greater Manchester Police have launched a probe after a woman in her 20s was reportedly attacked at an event. They said: "At 12:41am on Saturday 2 November, we were made aware of a suspected assault a woman in her 20s. It's believed that she was at an event when she was approached by an unknown man who dragged her outside and assaulted her. An investigation is underway to understand the circumstances. No arrests have been made at this stage."
Meanwhile, the Avan Lounge Restaurant and Shisha Bar expressed their concern over the incident involving Ms. Shania Safaray, which came to light through her social media post. A spokesperson stated: "We want to express our deep concern for the situation involving Ms. Shania Safaray, which we only became aware of through her recent social media post. We are very sorry to hear about her experience and the distress it has caused her."
They added: "To clarify, Avan Lounge was unaware of any incidents occurring outside our venue on that evening. We do not know or have any connection with the individuals involved in the reported altercation, and we are not affiliated in any way with the person or people allegedly involved in this assault."
The venue also mentioned reaching out to Ms. Sarafay: "We have reached out to Ms. Sarafay directly to express our sympathies and offer any assistance she may need."
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