The video went viral, attracting significant attention from gender-critical feminists (also termed trans-exclusionary radical feminists/TERFs) and from some media, which led to protests and counter-protests.
[2][3] On February 12, 2023, a judge ruled that the indecent exposure case could proceed, citing the testimony of two witnesses that the individual in question had a partial or full erection for a duration of "30 to 60 minutes" during the incident.
[9] Traditionally, Korean baths and spas that carry the appellation jjimjilbang permit nudity within their gender-segregated areas, and are a "family affair".
[11][13] Wi Spa has an "Equal Access" policy for customers that covers "age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law".
[15][16][17] According to a subsequent news release from the Los Angeles Police Department, the incident occurred on June 23, the day before the video was uploaded.
[20][21] On July 3, Precious Child, a Los Angeles trans woman, a musician and activist, was falsely accused online of being the alleged person referred to by the incident video.
Specifically, "[Child] saw comments from sort of militia group types in the US, then from broader pro-Trump people in the US, then she said that like transphobic feminists in Germany and in Australia were weighing in".
The LAPD source said the department could not at that time evidentially substantiate the incident nor find evidence of any transgender person's presence in the day in question inside Wi Spa.
[6] According to Los Angeles Magazine, on July 19, "several outlets have questioned whether the video was staged to generate outrage at a time when conservative politicians are weaponizing trans rights for political gain.
"[24] On December 19, 2022, Los Angeles Magazine published an interview with the suspect in which they repudiate the hoax notion, speculating that a lack of notoriety and paying cash at the Spa minimized their perception.
[1] On July 18, The Intercept reported Cubana Angel joined Cure America Action (citing her press conference hosted by the organization) in a campaign to repeal California's anti-discrimination law for trans individuals.
[19] Cure America Action is a Washington, D.C.-based, nonprofit organization that claims it "advocates for conservative principles based on Christianity, Capitalism, and the Constitution.
[8] The suspect also had an open case from 2018, in which they have pled "not guilty"[3] to seven counts of indecent exposure in front of women and children in a Los Angeles park.
[8] In an interview with the New York Post published on September 2, 2021, the suspect denied their guilt, stating that they are the victim of "transphobic harassment" and are legally female.
[6] Ian Miles Cheong, a conservative political commentator, posted two videos about the incident on June 27 via his Twitter account that reached hundreds of thousands of views.
[17] The controversy was discussed on Fox News beginning from June 28,[32] with commentator Tucker Carlson featuring the story on his show that evening.
[6] On June 30, KCAL-TV, a LA CBS affiliate, posted a story that quoted Bamby Salcedo, CEO of the Los Angeles-based TransLatina Coalition, who said the behavior of the woman in the incident video is not uncommon: "we experience this type of violence every single day of our lives."
[24] A July 20 report by the private news-site American Military News stated that the involvement of antifa was alleged by Andy Ngo but could not otherwise be confirmed.
[20] The opposing groups came to blows repeatedly, after which the Los Angeles Police Department declared that the whole gathering constituted an "unlawful assembly."
The LAPD Rampart Division suppressed both groups, with riot control units using physical force, less-than-lethal weapons, and batons.
[6] Demonstrators and counter-demonstrators again surrounded Wi Spa in the late morning; however, police presence had been increased compared to the July 3 protest.
[33] According to The Intercept reportage, police focused primarily on pro-trans left-wing demonstrators, kettling and arresting a significant group (pictured right).
[23][7] The Guardian journalist Lois Beckett was threatened and assaulted by right-wing demonstrators, being accosted, pursued, and eventually shoved to the ground after being pelted with water bottles.
Additionally, responding to Brandy Zadrozny's comment about internet performativity, Beckett said the nigh-omnipresence of media made identification "unavoidable".