NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Intentions of Trump supporter questioned after Berlinda Nibo retracts statement

news.com.au
9 Jan, 2021 08:24 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The purpose behind this image is now being questioned as witnesses come forward. Photo / Twitter

The purpose behind this image is now being questioned as witnesses come forward. Photo / Twitter

Conflicting reports have emerged after a supporter of US President Donald Trump stepped in when a crowd turned on a black woman in the US this week.

In the shocking images – captured by Raquel Natalicchio – red-headed Roy Ball is seen bear hugging Berlinda Nibo, who was viciously attacked by Trump supporters in LA.

Initially, she insisted the man grabbing her was her "hero" and the LAPD tweeted he was "a good Samaritan".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Raquel Natalicchio (@rockmyworldrocky)

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Today in LA, white supremacists at the “Stop The Steal” rally attacked a Black woman.

The woman was walking home when 20 people surrounded her, demanding to know who she voted for.

They shoved her, pepper-sprayed her, and punched her in the face before our friends helped her. pic.twitter.com/4LvEd7XkbR

— Chad Loder (@chadloder) January 7, 2021

However, in the days that have followed, different and disturbing new accounts have emerged, casting doubt on Ball's intentions when he grabbed Nibo.

ROY BALL Toyota of West Covina. https://t.co/uyRnCG0EeM

— Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) January 7, 2021

Nibo was walking home in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday when she encountered members of a local "Stop the Steal" demonstration and began to live-stream the event, the Washington Post reported.

"They're yelling at me because of my colour, calling me the n-word, calling me the b-word, saying, 'All lives matter. Black lives doesn't matter,'" Nibo, 25, told KCAL.

Shocking footage of the incident shows dozens of demonstrators swarming Nibo. As she is pushed, her wig is ripped off her and she is doused with pepper spray.

"I'm telling them, 'No, I'm not a Trump supporter. I don't care. Please just leave me alone. I'm just trying to get home,'" she recounted to KTTV.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When Nibo first spoke to media outlets she crediting the man for shielding her and leading her to safety.

"That guy, I call him my hero. That guy picked me up, was whispering in my ear, telling me, "Keep going. You're OK. I got you, I have your phone. You're OK, I'm going to get you out of here. These people are trying to kill you",' she told NBC 4 on Thursday.

But after her initial statement, several other witness accounts claimed she was actually maced in the eyes while being restrained by Ball, saying he is no hero.

"Roy Ball was not a bystander. He was involved," one user tweeted.

Discover more

World

'Brian did his job': Family remembers police officer killed in US riots

09 Jan 07:51 PM
World

Fatal flaw in Trump impeachment plan

09 Jan 07:23 PM
World

Horned man who became face of deadly siege on US Capitol arrested

09 Jan 06:31 PM
World

Trump v Twitter: President's sneaky attempts to outsmart ban

09 Jan 03:40 AM

Here is additional footage of "Good Samaritan" Roy Ball at the rally in LA telling another Black woman that "minorities are nothing but pieces of sh**"...

Is this your hero? pic.twitter.com/gi1UsIEz0b

— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) January 8, 2021

Footage of two unidentified witnesses jumping out of the crowd to escort Nibo to the police line has been circulated since initial reports of the incident.

Nibo later has now said she was unable to see who helped her by leading her out of the crowd and was trying to retract her statement of the man"saving her", according to one Instagram account.

Nibo has also since told Buzzfeed News she didn't fight back because in that moment she did need help and trusted him.

However, when the man was carrying her with her hands at her sides, someone pepper-sprayed her in the face for at least the third time.

"It did not help me," Nibo told the news outlet. "It would've helped me more if he had made way for me to move out of there completely."

Witness Di Barbadillo told LAIST it was she and two others who actually brought Nibo to safety.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"If he intended to help her, I don't think he was able to follow through with that," said Barbadillo. "We grabbed her out of there and walked her across the street."

Issuing their own statement, the LAPD said the man "appears to have been a good Samaritan" who "carried her away from the hostile crowd and let her go".

"The LAPD is continuing to conduct a thorough investigation, and we encourage any witnesses or those with information on the suspect(s) to contact Central Area Detectives," police said in a statement.

No one has yet been arrested in connection with the attack on Nibo, according to NBC Los Angeles.

As for Ball, it's understood when the images first surfaced, he was identified by social media users and has since been fired over his involvement in the rally after Twitter users identified him as an employee at a car dealership.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

World

Secrets of Okunoshima: Poison gas island's hidden WWII history

21 Jun 02:20 AM
World

Australian sailor with genital herpes removes condom during sex

21 Jun 02:05 AM
World

Hundreds of US citizens fleeing Iran amid Israel conflict

21 Jun 01:45 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from World

Secrets of Okunoshima: Poison gas island's hidden WWII history

Secrets of Okunoshima: Poison gas island's hidden WWII history

21 Jun 02:20 AM

The factory had produced 6616 tons of toxic gases by the war's end.

Australian sailor with genital herpes removes condom during sex

Australian sailor with genital herpes removes condom during sex

21 Jun 02:05 AM
Hundreds of US citizens fleeing Iran amid Israel conflict

Hundreds of US citizens fleeing Iran amid Israel conflict

21 Jun 01:45 AM
'We will not accept': Niger Delta chief's $20b demand from Shell

'We will not accept': Niger Delta chief's $20b demand from Shell

21 Jun 01:28 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP