What was meant to be a celebratory New Year’s Eve for influencer Zachary Willmore quickly spiraled into a viral moment of harassment.
Known for documenting his life as a feminine gay man living with HIV, Willmore shared a disturbing encounter in a public bathroom that has now been seen by millions.
The video, which has racked up over 13 million views on TikTok, captures a tense exchange between Willmore, who wore glitter makeup that night, and a man who confronted him while he attempted to use the men’s bathroom.
Verbal Harassment in the Bathroom
In the clip, the man, who appeared intoxicated, berates Willmore for his appearance.
“I don’t like a dude… with pearls on his eyes,” he yells, continuing to criticize Willmore for showing his chest and wearing a belly button ring.
Attempting to de-escalate the situation, Willmore explains to his followers that he chose a stall instead of risking further conflict.
The man continues his verbal attack, questioning why Willmore wouldn’t use the women’s bathroom, to which Willmore responds firmly, “Because I’m a f***ing boy.”
Even as he tried to leave, the man’s harassment persisted, including invasive and demeaning questions about Willmore’s body.
Willmore Speaks Out on Instagram
Following the incident, Willmore took to Instagram Stories to share his perspective.
He described standing beside the man at the urinal, which seemed to provoke discomfort.
“There are 8 billion people on this Earth, how can you expect everyone to think and act exactly like you?” he wrote.
Willmore emphasized that he simply wanted to use the restroom safely, choosing a stall to avoid further conflict.
When the man reportedly shook the stall door, Willmore began recording the encounter, highlighting the level of intimidation he experienced.
Dancing Before the Drama
In another TikTok post, Willmore shared footage from earlier in the night, showing himself dancing and enjoying the celebration.
Reflecting on the harassment, he admitted that homophobia still surprises him despite frequent exposure.
“It doesn’t make sense to me, I’m just living my life,” he said.
“If more people got to know me, I think they’d like me.”
The Accuser Responds
The man involved, identified by TikTok accountability creator Danesh Noshirvan as Jaxon Terill, addressed the incident publicly.
Terill denied shaking the stall but acknowledged that his behavior was “wrong and not OK.”
In a statement, he admitted that alcohol influenced his actions but stressed that it does not excuse them.
“I am in no way justifying my actions last night… I’ve sent multiple apologies to Zach,” Terill wrote.
Moving Forward
The incident has sparked wider conversations online about harassment faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in public spaces.
While Willmore continues to share his life openly, the encounter serves as a stark reminder that discrimination and intimidation remain real challenges for many.
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