UPDATE: On April 16, 2026, Ryley Niemi and Off The Record USA were violently assaulted during an incident in West Hollywood.

Hi, we are asking for your support after a situation that has directly impacted both him and our ability to continue our work.

On April 16, 2026, what started as a routine interaction quickly escalated into a violent encounter. Ryley was physically assaulted, and the situation became serious enough that over a dozen emergency responders arrived at the scene.

In the middle of the incident, one of our primary cameras, a Sony A7C II, was completely destroyed.

We are currently taking the appropriate steps to pursue justice through the proper legal channels.

This moment has also created a significant setback for us operationally. Our ability to document, produce content, and continue showing up consistently relies on having the right equipment in the field, and losing that has limited what we can do moving forward. We also want to ensure future safety through security.

We are raising this to help us recover from this incident, replace essential equipment, and get back to full capacity safely as quickly as possible.

We are humbly asking for your support to help us move forward. Your contribution will directly help us continue our work, stay active in the field, and ensure that moments like this do not stop us from documenting and sharing important stories.

Any support, shares, or encouragement mean more to us than we can fully express.

Thank you for standing with Ryley and Off The Record USA during this time.

Social Media: @ryley.niemi & @otrecordusa