NSW Police are investigating an alleged incident of offensive behaviour involving Celebrity Apprentice star and drag performer Carla from Bankstown.
Benjahmin James, who you might know for the drag persona Carla from Bankstown, first shared details of the frightening encounter on Instagram over the weekend.
He explained he was at his local shops with his mother when he was nearly struck by an SUV, and later subjected to a barrage of homophobic abuse by two men inside the vehicle.
“[We were] grabbing stuff for dinner and as she was going into the supermarket, I was going to the shops across the road. As I started walking, I saw an SUV to my right driving in, and it looked like they were trying to park. I stopped to let them go past,” James told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
The SUV came to a complete stop and assuming it was safe, James continued walking.
“I was almost at the exit driveway when the car floored it towards me and I had to jump out of the way before I was hit,” he recalled.
After narrowly avoiding the vehicle, James moved to the sidewalk, only for the SUV to follow and block his path, continuing to hurl homophobic slurs as they pulled up beside him.
James claimed that for a few minutes, the men hurled abuse at him but he tried to ignore it.
He eventually made his way back to his car, where his mum yelled at the men to leave, and the SUV eventually drove off after noticing her on the phone to the police.
Throughout the encounter, there were a few bystanders in the car park, although no one stepped in.
“[They] just stood there and watched it happen. I feel that, in these types of situations, most people don’t get involved because it’s not happening to them or they just think it’s none of their business to stand up and say something,” James observed.
“If we don’t stand up and say something, people like that will continue to get away with it.”
James told P.TV. he chose to share the story on social media in an effort to encourage others to call out offensive behaviour when they see it, explaining he also spoke with the police because he “won’t let people like that get away with it”.
“I’ve never backed down from people who say these horrible things, not only to myself but to others as well. Having a big social media presence means that I can share my story with my followers, and if there are others out there going through the same things or experiencing any forms of bullying, homophobia, transphobia, online trolls, they know that they have someone they can reach out to,” he explained.
NSW Police confirmed they’ve received a report of offensive behaviour from the Georges Hall area and are looking into it.
“Following inquiries, police are hoping to speak to the driver and passenger of a grey BMW SUV with a blue licence plate seen in the area at the time of the incident,” a spokesperson told P.TV in a statement.
The post has sparked an outpouring of support from friends, family, and followers.
“It’s been so amazing and I appreciate it with all my heart. I didn’t share this story to get sympathy, I shared it because I wanted to stand up for myself and my amazing LGBTQI+ community to show we can be strong and unite,” James said.
“Being bullied most of my life, I used to be scared to speak up, but as I’ve grown, I’ve become more confident thanks to the incredible support from my community and followers.”
Carla from Bankstown first went viral in 2021 with her satirical videos, portraying herself as the no-nonsense assistant to former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. She went on to become a fan favourite on Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2022, showing off her versatility in the competition.
She’s now one of the country’s most recognisable drag queens, collabing with brands like Uber Eats, 7-Eleven, Domino’s, and V Energy Drinks.
Lead image: Instagram
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