The short version
- Two individuals were arrested following a violent riot at an influencer boxing event in Kilkenny, Ireland, which descended into chaos after far-right activist Tommy Robinson was invited to interact with competitors.
- The disorder began when organizer Harrison Sullivan encouraged a confrontation between Robinson and Muslim personality Mo Deen, leading to physical altercations, thrown objects, and widespread panic among the diverse crowd.
- Police confirmed one attendee was hospitalized for assault while others faced charges for violent disorder, as organizers later admitted security failures despite claiming the viral incident boosted entertainment value.
A promotional boxing event in Kilkenny, Ireland, devolved into a large-scale riot on Saturday night, resulting in multiple arrests and at least one hospitalization. The violence erupted after organizers invited Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist currently on bail for harassment convictions, to the venue. His presence and subsequent actions inflamed tensions within a racially diverse crowd, leading to scenes of chaos that were broadcast live to millions of viewers online.
The event was organized by Harrison Sullivan, known online as HSTikkyTokky, and fellow internet personality Ed Matthews under their Unhinged events company. Both organizers have been featured in recent media coverage regarding the so-called manosphere influencer community. The gathering took place at the Hub events venue and included a mix of streamers, fitness personalities, drill rappers, and adult content creators. Initially, the proceedings began without incident, but the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Robinson was brought to the commentator’s desk.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had recently been found guilty of harassing two journalists to the point of causing fear of violence. He is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in December, where a significant prison term is possible. During the event, Robinson held a copy of his book and made inflammatory remarks about Muslim men and sexual offenses, citing statistics that have been widely debunked. These comments drew immediate offense from many attendees.
Tensions escalated further when Mo Deen, a Muslim social media personality whose real name is Mohammad Kubba, won his scheduled fight. After climbing out of the ring, Kubba confronted Robinson, throwing punches before security intervened and separated the two. The situation appeared contained until Sullivan demanded that Kubba return to the ring for an unscheduled confrontation with Robinson. Despite Kubba’s reluctance, security escorted him back into the venue.
The ring was filled with Robinson’s supporters when Kubba returned. Robinson threw his book at Kubba, sparking a physical fight that quickly spread beyond the ring. Attendees began throwing chairs and barricades, punching one another, and screaming as others fled for safety. The riot lasted approximately twenty minutes before event security and local police, who had been called earlier due to disturbances, managed to disperse the crowd.
Irish police confirmed that a man in his thirties was assaulted and taken to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny. Another man in his twenties was arrested and detained at a police station, while a teenage boy was charged with violent disorder and scheduled to appear in court. Footage of the violence spread rapidly across social media platforms, with some attendees chanting Robinson’s name before the live stream was cut off.
Following the incident, Sullivan acknowledged on social media that he had made errors by not hiring sufficient security personnel. He described the event as a mistake made while trying to grow his business but also claimed it resulted in significant viral attention and entertainment value. The Unhinged promotions Instagram account posted footage of the riot with a caption acknowledging the chaos.
It remains unclear whether Robinson’s bail conditions prohibited international travel, as both the Ministry of Justice and Metropolitan Police were unable to confirm specific restrictions at the time of reporting. There is no evidence to suggest the riot was pre-planned, though organizers’ decisions to invite a controversial figure and encourage confrontation appear to have directly contributed to the disorder. The incident underscores the growing risks associated with unregulated influencer events that prioritize shock value over public safety.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Riot breaks out at influencer boxing event attended by Tommy Robinson in Ireland
