Bodega Incident

Artists depiction.

On April 5, 2023, a recording of a private Discord call between Daniel, his management, and a troll impersonating Olivia VanderWaal was uploaded to Reddit by user u/cybercrimer. In the recording, Daniel is heard and partially seen getting into an altercation with a bodega employee after being asked to leave the premises. The catalyst for this incident began when u/Zokmonkee of the r/Daniellarson subreddit posted multiple video recordings of himself harassing Daniel, beginning at a restaurant and later continuing at a bodega.

The "fans" repeatedly asked Daniel questions, including references to illicit drugs and claimed to be his friends. Daniel became increasingly agitated and is heard in the videos talking about an unspecified "security" force, and threatening to contact law enforcement on u/Zokmonkee. Daniel can be seen speaking about harassment to the employee he would soon punch, suggesting that earlier interactions may have influenced the events leading to being kicked out of the store. However, there is no documented evidence that these teenagers encouraged Daniel to assault the bodega employee, whereas others involved, such as his management and "Olivia", are documented as encouraging such behavior.

“ We originally found Daniel in "The Gem Saloon" and talked to him inside. Shortly after we restaurant have scared him away and he walked out of the restaurant under our noses. We spotted him shortly after on the same block little Inidia was on and when we confronted him he went inside

- Zokmonkee

”

Following this, the "fans" continue to follow Daniel throughout the store. At one point, one of them calls out his name from different aisles, after which Daniel eventually contacts law enforcement. The recording capturing most of the incident began at this point. The call took place in a private Discord server called "Daniel Larson HQ," where his "managers" and the newest fake Olivia VanderWaal communicated with Daniel.

In this call, Daniel is seen being kicked out of Little India Bodega by an employee for recording inside the store and causing a disturbance. Daniel claims that he had been instructed by police to remain at the location, although it is not confirmed whether he had contacted law enforcement. Daniel also claims that he had previously attempted to call the police due to the five teenagers who were following him around inside the bodega. Despite his attempts to explain, the employee continues to ask him to leave and is seen pushing him toward the exit. The camera cuts in and out, but Daniel is shown exiting through the door.

The fake Olivia VanderWaal encourages Daniel to defend himself, including suggesting he should spit on the employee. Daniel begins screaming that police had "told him to wait in there", but his statements are ignored as the employee continues to instruct him to leave. While the situation unfolded, the trolls calling him encouraged Daniel to assault the man multiple times.

Daniel accuses the employee of previously hitting him multiple times. The employee, now near the store entrance, begins to contact law enforcement and tells Daniel that he will be arrested if he does not leave immediately. Daniel then appears to act on the encouragement he had received, lunging at the employee and attempting to punch him. The employee fights back by punching Daniel in the eye and pushing him to the ground. Daniel can be heard shouting, “I HAVE YOU ON FILM,” although the footage does not clearly capture the altercation due to a shaky or obscured camera. Daniel then turns his camera back on and yells that he was injured after being pushed to the ground, claiming that his knee and eye were bleeding.

The managers and fake Olivia VanderWaal encourage Daniel to leave the bodega, only to be met with Daniel refusing to listen to their requests, as he stresses the need to pursue unspecified legal action against both the employee and the five teenagers who had been following him earlier. He also claims that he is waiting outside the bodega for police and EMS to tend to his injuries.

Videos

Load video

YouTube

YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy

ContinueDismiss

Load video

YouTube

YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy

ContinueDismiss

Transcript

Transcript (troll POV and voicemail)

Fan 1: Alright. Dude, I was just in there and I bought something so he might like, tweak out. [they walk into the bodega] Woman: Yeah, so it should be good. Daniel: They're back. Fan 2: Daniel! Daniel! Daniel: I asked you to leave. I've asked you to leave, we're on the phone with the police. I've asked you to leave. Fan 2: Daniel. Come on Daniel. You know me. Daniel: No I don't. No I don't. Fan 2: Fan 2: Yeah you do, we're friends Daniel: I'm on the phone with my security. Fan 2: Are you smoking crack or tweak? Daniel: No I'm not. Stop- stop lying. Get outta here before I call the police. (employee speaks to him indistinctly and the trolls back away) What? Who? OK, so one of them is- one of the guys that was sending death threats on the, um, Reddit. (Fans laugh) [the trolls return later, laughing] Daniel: Sorry, I'm famous and I don't know any of these people. They're impersonating my security and they're following me around the entire block. [cuts to later] Fan 2: Daniel! Fan 1: Where is he? Fan 2: Daniel! Fan 1: Daniel! Daniel: *to his phone* I- I they- the restaurant manager. Fan 2: Are you smoking crack or tweak? Daniel: I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. If you do not leave I'm calling the police. [one troll approaches him] Daniel: *to his phone* Can you hear me? *to the troll* Please leave! [Daniel's voicemail] Daniel: I GOT A FUCKING DEATH THREAT, YOU GUYS SHOULD TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY!!!! FUCK YOU N****ERS!!

Transcript (VC)

Daniel: It truly is. Fake Olivia: Do you know how to defend yourself? Daniel: Yeah, I do, but I've already punched the security guard. Discord User: You already punched him? Daniel: Yeah I did, because he put hands on me and I told him that I'm a celebrity and you're clearly putting me in danger by doing this. You guys should, you know, like, at least you know like- understand that like, I don't know these people, I'm trying to call police, and you guys are not listening. You guys are like, clearly, you know like, causing a bigger situation. So, at that point I had to self-defend myself. Discord User: Alright, could you turn on your camera? Fake Olivia: Yeah, Daniel, are you, can you turn your camera on so I know you're safe? Daniel: Yeah. Discord User & Olivia: OK thank you. Discord User: Show us your face. Show us your face. Daniel: But um, those five teenager whatever guys. Olivia: Yeah, those trolls. Daniel: Their goal, their plan from what I can see is they want me to get out of here. Olivia: Yeah. Bodega Employee: I need you- this is private property. You need to walk out right now. Right now. Daniel: Yes, the police are on their way. Bodega Employee: You wait for the police outside. Let's go. Daniel: I'm not gonna do that because the police told me to wait here. Bodega Employee: Get the fuck out. [Daniel's POV shows the employee pushing him to the exit] Bodega Employee: Get out! Daniel: I have you on film! I have you on film! Bodega Employee: Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Discord User: Please tell me someone's recording this. Olivia: I'm not! Discord User: Daniel, what's happening? Daniel: I have you on film bitch! I have you on film bitch! Bodega Employee: Out! Out of the store! Out! Go! Daniel: THE POLICE TOLD ME TO WAIT IN THERE BITCH!! Olivia: Daniel, defend yourself. Defend yourself, Daniel. Discord User: Daniel, get back at him! Daniel: CALL THE FUCKING POLICE!!! THEY TOLD ME TO WAIT IN THERE!! Bodega Employee: Right now. This is a private property. [Daniel mutes] Discord User: Oh he muted. Daniel? Daniel: (unmutes) Are you guys getting this on film? *starts hitting himself* Olivia: Yeah we are, Daniel. Discord User: Yes Bodega Incident: Hey! Cut it out! Daniel: NO!!! NO, BECAUSE YOU HIT ME! YOU HIT ME IN THERE!!! [an altercation starts] Bodega Employee: *unintelligible* Daniel: FUCK YOU BITCH!!!! YOU HIT ME IN THERE, SO OF COURSE I'M GONNA SELF DEFEND MYSELF!!! BITCH!!!! THE POLICE TOLD ME TO WAIT IN THERE!!! *hits himself* Bodega Employee: Wait for the police outside! Olivia: Get on him Daniel! [Daniel lunges at the employee and tries to hit him] Bodega Employee: Go ahead! You're gonna get arrested! [an altercation happens, and Daniel's camera stops] Bodega Employee: Hey hey hey hey!! Daniel: I HAVE YOU ON FILM!! Bodega Employee: You're not! Discord User: Oh my god, Daniel! Daniel, did you spit on him? Olivia: Oh my god! Discord User: Daniel? You there? He's- Daniel? Olivia: He's gone! Discord User: He's gone? Did he spit on- he's still in the call though! What- what did his phone die? Olivia: I don't know- there he is! Discord User: Daniel are you there? I saw his camera! Daniel: I'm injured! I'm fucking injured! Discord User: You're injured? Show us. What is happening? Daniel: The guy fucking tackled me to the ground! Discord User: Did you spit on him? Daniel: I had to hit him for protection! Discord User: Oh my god, wait, show us what happened! Olivia: Did you run away? Put your camera on! We have to record this! Daniel: My knee is bleeding! Discord User: Oh my god! Olivia: Daniel put your camera on! Discord User: chuckles Daniel! Oh, he's still there. Olivia: Daniel, you need to run! Daniel you need to run! Discord User: Why's his- Daniel, you're phone's like, muffled. He bodyslammed him 'cause he spit on the guy! Oh my god! Daniel: I'm fucking injured. Discord User: Alright. That wasn't me, that was Olivia. Daniel, what just happened? Daniel: I told so- yes. Discord: Daniel leave. Daniel leave. Daniel: No, because the five teenagers that were sending death threats on social media and at the restaurant, they came into my location! Discord User: Daniel, you need to leave right now, because you just attacked him. Daniel: No because I'm pressing charges on them. I'm pressing charges for assault. I'm pressing charges for assault. Discord User: Daniel, you need to leave. Daniel: No, I got a fucking black eye, so I'm waiting for paramedics. Discord User: Show us your face. [Daniel flips his camera, he has a black eye and a laceration on his nose] Discord User: Where did you get hit? Daniel: I'm going to have a black eye. I can't tell, but those five people. Discord User: Show us your face again. Show me your face. Daniel why did you instigate a fight with him? Daniel: Those five people came into the location, OK? So I called the police and EMS. Discord User: Daniel, you're gonna get arrested! Daniel: I don't fucking care. I care more about my goddamn motherfucking safety and the fact that this guy fucking grabbed me and assaulted me! That's a fucking crime, alright? Discord User: But Daniel, you need to leave because you're having fans that are stalking you. Daniel: I don't care. I don't care, alright? I don't fucking care! Discord User: Oh my god, Daniel! Daniel: I have- I'm the one with evidence! This guy doesn't! I have everything on film on my phone! Discord User: But Daniel, you didn't leave the store when you told him to, and then you attacked him. I know you didn't spit on him, but you- Daniel: Because the police are the- the police are the ones that told me to me to rait (wait) in the- inside the location, so that's what I was doing. The police are the ones that told me to wait. Discord User: I- but if- but if a- *sighs* Olivia: Want you to leave, Daniel. Daniel: Hold on, I'm calling 911. Discord User: Daniel, you need to leave. Grace wants you to leave. Olivia: He's gone. Discord User: Oh my fucking god, he's literally gonna get in trouble! Basically like a bunch of people were like, stalking. I mean, it's like, 1% of it's our fault, I'm gonna be honest but, like a bunch of like, fans were stalking him and like, harassing him out of the store and then a security guard got him kicked out of the store, he got into a physical fight. [cuts to YouTube short, "Daniel Larson is in the hospital after being attacked a block away from grace VanderWaals house."] Daniel: (now in the hospital with gauze over his nose) So, um, this is what I look like after I got assaulted by two fans in New York City in 2023. Fortunately I don't have any fractures that I know of. I did have a fairly good sized cut on my um, nose, but that's about it. [cuts to YouTube short, "Daniel Larson get attacked a block away from grace VanderWaals house by trolls and haters. emergency"] Daniel: Um, no. Thank you. I look terrible. I look like, uh, the Grinch on a bad day. *chuckling* This is terrible!

Injuries

Daniel did not leave the situation unscathed as he somehow manages to do with most of his incidents. Daniel claims he is waiting for paramedics due to the black eye he sustained during the altercation, and later a photo of the injury was uploaded to Reddit by user u/tawnypunani. Approximately an hour after the incident, Daniel reveals that he is still awaiting emergency medical services, afraid that he may have sustained a concussion.

Later, it was reported Daniel had been discharged from the hospital. While in the emergency room, he was evaluated for a possible concussion, and it was found that he did not sustain one. No serious injuries were reported.

Later that night, Daniel uploads another video from the hospital. It has not been confirmed whether the footage was recorded during his initial visit or a subsequent one. The black eye is present in the video. In the video, Daniel claims he was attacked by two fans in New York City in 2023. He claims he did not sustain any fractures, but has a significant laceration on his nose, which he says is his only injury.

During his hospital stay, Daniel was fitted with a large gauze bandage on his nose. However, in later Tiktok videos of himself touring the 9/11 memorial and other attractions, the bandage is no longer present.

On April 6, 2023, Daniel uploaded an image of his hospital visit and discharge instructions to his TikTok page. In the document shown, the only injuries recorded are "Diagnosis: Abrasion.".

References

2. recording

3. recording

4. recording

5. Youtube Video documenting the event

6. Image of the hospital discharge document

7. recording

8. Another YouTube Video documenting the event