Altercation on SEPTA bus involving former WHYY intern and pepper spray goes viral (AWFUL)

WHYY(Philly PBS) ^ | 01/20/2026 | Carmen Russell-Sluchansky

[Kid Shelleen]

A confrontation between a conservative influencer and a woman on a SEPTA bus has gone viral, generating online debate, partisan accusations and a comment from Elon Musk.

A video clip shared on social media shows an exchange between Frank Scales, who identifies himself as an independent journalist and posts under the name SurgePhilly, and a woman believed to be Paulina Reyes, a recent communications and film student and former intern with WHYY News. Reyes is a former intern with Billy Penn at WHYY.

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TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS:

[Kid Shelleen]

SEPTA - SouthEastern Transit Authority
WHYY/Billy Penn = local affiliate for both NPR (National Public Radio) and PBS

In the footage posted by Scales, which circulated widely Tuesday, Reyes appears to have used pepper spray on Scales, whom she called a “fascist” and a “racist” during an expletive-laden verbal assault.

[Kid Shelleen]

*** PA PING ***
Another left wing kook being funded by tax payers.

[wetgundog]

CCP, the jokes write themselves...

[Greg123456]

Septa? The name reeks of filth and disease.

[Robert DeLong]

You can see the posted vdeo that is menationed HERE

[major_gaff]

If this isn't assault, not sure what is...
PhillySurge

[SauronOfMordor]

Antifa recruits from mentally unstable people who respond violently to political differences.

[LouAvul]

That’s assault and battery unless.. Unless it’s staged. If no charges are filed, it’s got to be the latter.

[bk1000]

He has more self control than I have. Had she treated me like that I would have beaten her to a pulp. You know, equity and all.

[bert]

Mace is the equalizer......

[i_robot73]

>
That’s assault and battery unless.. Unless it’s staged. If no charges are filed, it’s got to be the latter.
>

If no charges are filed, it’s gotta be a blue Lefty enclave that’ll wave-off crime when committed by one of their own; esp. when it’s vs. the non-Left.

[EVO X]

I would be surprised if she is charged. The Philly DA is a Soros hack...

[Flavious_Maximus]

Paulina Reyes = An illegal alien (democrat) from Mexico. /spit

[Celtic Conservative]

Well, it’s Philly so it’s a deviated SEPTA.

CC

[Celtic Conservative]

“If no charges are filed, it’s got to be the latter.”

Or it’s a $oro$ prosecutor.

CC

[Keyhopper]

He is a fascist!!! He denied that woman her rights, and a few lefts. If someone did that to me you’re gonna need a cop and an ambulance.

[RightOnTheBorder]

Felony assault, on camera, against everyone on the bus will likely not even draw charges in leftist Philly.

The only possible justice here is if someone takes it extrajudicially, which will draw the full wrath of the “justice” system, as leftists have intended.

[TangoLimaSierra]

Very good.

[ViLaLuz]

We call it SEPTIC

[Made In The USA]

She is the archetype of so many of these angry young women. Full of rage, far left leaning, uncouth, and more feral than feminine.

What went wrong in their lives? Lack of a relationship with God? Parent(s) that didn’t care or were abusive? An outcast or lonely person desperately seeking validation?

Not my problem, just fascinated, if not astonished, by these violent leftist outcast ugly ducks. Jail time for their actions would be a good start.