After reportedly throwing a phone at the performer during a concert on Sunday night, Nicolas Malvagna, 27, was charged with harassment and assault on misdemeanor charges and was arraigned in New York City on Monday.
According to a police complaint, the man who is suspected of throwing a phone at singer Bebe Rexha when she was performing in New York City on Sunday stated he did it because he thought “it would be funny.”
Nicolas Malvagna, 27, was charged with harassment and assault on misdemeanor counts in New York City on Monday after allegedly throwing a phone at Rexha, 33, during a concert at Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan on Sunday.
A concertgoer captured the incident on camera, which was then posted to social media by the concertgoer. As crew workers rush onstage, she hides her face and passes out.
The criminal complaint claims that a witness who declined to be identified informed police that he inquired “who threw the phone” and that Malvagna allegedly raised his hand and replied, “I did.”
After that, according to the witness, Malvagna allegedly said: “I was trying to see if I could hit her with the phone at the end of the show because it would be funny,” the complaint claims.
His lawyer, Todd Spodek, stated that he entered a not guilty plea.
“As a fan, Mr. Malvagna’s only intention was to have Ms. Rexha take pictures with his phone and return it as a keepsake,” Spodek said in a statement. He had no desire to hurt Ms. Rehxa in any way.
According to the criminal complaint, the event left Rexha with “redness, swelling, bruising, and a laceration to her eye as well as substantial pain.”
According to authorities, Rexha was brought to a hospital.
She can be seen in an Instagram shot with a bruise on her eyelid, a cut, and bandages close to her eyebrow.
I’m OK, the caption declares.
According to the complaint, Malvagna was released on his own recognizance and given a complete temporary order of protection directing him to remain away from Rexha at least until his upcoming court appearance on July 31.
If found guilty, Malvagna may spend up to a year in jail, according to Douglas Cohen, the Manhattan district attorney’s office press secretary.
