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'I had every right': Gigi defends prank reaction

Sarah Carty
Updated

Gigi Hadid is not a woman to be messed with.

Just one week after being 'manhandled' by celebrity prankster Vitalii Sediuk after walking in Milan Fashion Week, the 21-year-old beauty has yet again had to defend her reaction.

As the young supermodel was leaving the Max Mara show on Thursday, Sediuk came up behind her and picked her up.

Prankster Vitalii Sediukt 'manhandled' the model at Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Getty.
Prankster Vitalii Sediukt 'manhandled' the model at Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Getty.

Gigi, who was with her younger sister Bella Hadid, was able to break away from the comedian’s embrace by knocking him in the face with her elbow. Bella also jumped in to help pull her away.

However immediately following the incident, Gigi was accused of getting too physical with Sediuk and was forced to defend herself on social media.

And now the supermodel has written an article for Lena Dunham's Lenny Letter, where she explains in detail how she felt during and after the incident.

"Honestly, I felt I was in danger, and I had every right to react the way I did. If anything, I want girls to see the video and know that they have the right to fight back, too, if put in a similar situation," she said.

"Practicing self-defense is important so that when you're in the moment, reacting from muscle memory comes more naturally to you than freezing up.

"Confidence in your own ability to defend yourself comes with educating yourself about it, and is a massive advantage when in an unsafe situation."

She went on to explain what her mother, Yolanda Foster, said to her once she saw what Gigi had gone through.

The celebrity prankster picked Gigi up in the street. Photo: Splash.
The celebrity prankster picked Gigi up in the street. Photo: Splash.
Her sister Bella looked concerned as they walked away from the situation. Photo: Splash.
Her sister Bella looked concerned as they walked away from the situation. Photo: Splash.


"When my mom first saw what had happened, she texted me the picture of me elbowing the guy and (among other messages of support) said, "Good girl." My mom has taught me the power of my instincts since I was a kid," she said.

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"I just want to use what happened to me to show that it's everyone's right, and it can be empowering, to be able to defend yourself."

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