In a shocking incident that highlights the ongoing issue of harassment faced by women, a New York City councilwoman was unexpectedly kissed by a stranger during a live TV interview on Thursday. The incident took place in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, as Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a representative for the 48th district, was being interviewed by CBS New York.

Video footage of the incident, which was shared on Twitter, shows Vernikov standing confidently as she answers questions when suddenly a man wearing a hat approaches her from behind. Without any warning, he plants a kiss on her cheek before quickly walking away with a smile on his face. Shocked and clearly disturbed by the incident, Vernikov exclaims, "What the f***?" as she turns her head to look at the man who violated her personal space.

Vernikov wasted no time in speaking out about the assault, taking to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to share the video and express her discomfort. She referred to the incident as a "very creepy moment" and lamented the fact that she did not expect such behavior from her constituents. As news of the incident spread, many of Vernikov's fellow council members came forward to show their support and condemn the perpetrator.

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, a Democrat from New York, took to Twitter to call out the behavior as "disgusting." She expressed her concern that incidents like these are far too common and stressed the need to prevent sexual assault from becoming normalized in public interactions. Councilman Robert Holden, also from New York, echoed Velazquez's sentiments, emphasizing the seriousness of the incident and expressing disbelief at the number of “creeps” present on the streets.

Despite the gravity of the situation, it is disheartening to note that there is no official complaint report on file with the NYPD regarding the incident. This lack of action highlights the challenges faced by victims of harassment and assault when it comes to seeking justice and holding perpetrators accountable.

Inna Vernikov, who assumed office in 2021, represents the 48th district of New York, which includes Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Sheepshead Bay. Born and raised in Brooklyn to Ukrainian immigrant parents, Vernikov has a background as a small business owner and lawyer. This incident has shed light on the daily struggles faced by public figures, particularly women, and the need for greater awareness and action to combat harassment and assault.