A wonderful example for our fractured times!
You remember the act of wanton localism that
rocked our surfing world to its very core. Oh no, not where
a man jumped off his
surfboard near another man who proceeded to press
charges. Not the other one either where Stab magazine’s
editor and best friend off all surfers Ashton Goggans
felt threatened enough to call the Orange County detective.
No no no.
I’m talking about the aggressive leash
pull in Venice Beach, California. Do you remember? It
went a little something like this:
It was a day like any other in Venice Beach, California. The
waves were horrible and dumb. A Brazilian man, Wagner Lima, who
owns Brazilian Surf Club, was out amongst it as was a Senegalese
Olympic hopeful, on whom NBC was shooting a profile, and her host
Danielle Lyons. Also shooting photos from the pier was Rhonda
Harper, the owner of Black Girls Surf.
Ms. Lyons paddled for a wave, Mr. Wagner dropped in, faded
behind her and pulled her leash, Ms. Harper captured every motion
in crystal clear frame by detail.
All hell broke loose in the wake of these explosive actions. Mr.
Wagner Lima was threatened on Yelp. Ms. Lyons and Ms. Harper
threatened on Instagram. Bad blood all around.
I had assumed, at the start of this new year, that the the case
was being slow-walked through Venice Beach’s courts, possibly
hampered by the partial government shutdown but I was wrong.
In truth it appears that Queen X been prowling the mean streets,
looking for an apology and let’s not ramble anymore. Let’s let her
pick up the thread.
#wagnerlima update: In my quest to be a better me in 2019, I
reached out to Mr. Leash pull. The intention was to speak to him
immediately but he was busy enjoying his herbs so I walked the
boardwalk. I came back and my rental car had been
vandalized😒so I went directly to him. He explained his
side of the incident, which I stopped him dead in his tracks and
reminded him that his actions caused this chain reaction. I told
him about the threats I’d been receiving from his friends. He told
me about all of his woes. I reached out again and reminded him that
his actions caused this. We talked for awhile, I suggested we do an
anti-bullying beach day. He declined. He said, “all I can remember
everyday is when you said -you’re going to hear from me again. And
my life has been devastated.”🤷🏽♀️He said if he had to do
it again he wouldn’t done it. In the end he said the Harbor
Commission pulled his license and he’ll go today to try and get it
back. We filmed it even though he asked us not to. Said our first
goodbyes and that was it…until he went and spoke with his friend.
He apparently told him to get his butt back over there and continue
to apologize profusely and get a picture together.🤣😂🤣 We
exchanged numbers and he left. Then he came again to thank me for
coming to speak with him. He texted later again thanking me for
coming down. Someone had to address this situation,
so I did because I’m grown. Look at his face. 💅🏾😏
#localism #blackgirlssurf #blacksurfergirl #surf #venice #beach
#imgrown
Now, this is truly a New Year’s miracle and I only include
“possibly” in the above title because there are parts of the
passage I don’t understand.
Which herbs was Mr. Wagner enjoying? Rosemary? Chives? Are
chives herbs?
Who vandalized her car?
When Mr. Wagner Lima left the first time and was ordered back to
offer a proper apology and snag a picture was his friend a
lawyer?
Is it ok to film people who don’t want to be filmed?
“Look at his face” at the end there… What does Queen X mean?
I’ve reached out for answers and you can be sure many more
stories will follow.