OK, if it was a setup.... Why would this independent contractor go along with it? Or even if coerced into doing it, why not quietly warn Nanzi about it at the start.
Occams Razor.
This guy was bought off, or scared into lying for Pelousy.
Doubt he's an independent contractor in SF. Thanks to AB-5, he's either an employee, in which case he may have a case. Most likely, he's renting space from Ms. Kious, in which case she has no real control over his customers or appointments.
Sorry, Ms. Jonathan, nice try. You'll get your consolation gifts in the mail shortly.
Or perhaps he is a liberal San Franciscan hairdresser. Naw seems pretty unlikely.