Celebrity stylist to Simon Biles and Quinta Brunson revealed to be person dragged away by police ahead of Met Gala

A guest who was dragged away from the Carlyle Hotel ahead of Monday’s Met Gala has now been identified — and she’s a stylist to the stars.

On Tuesday, the woman who was allegedly ‘manhandled’ by a member of the New York Police Department was identified as the celebrity stylist Jessica Paster, according to Page Six.

DailyMail.com first shared video of the shocking confrontation, in which Paster attempted to enter the hotel — where celebrities attending New York City’s Met Gala and their entourages stay ahead of the fundraiser — before being pulled away from the front entrance by security and police.

Paster’s altercation with police was reportedly a major subject of discussion among Met Gala attendees later that night, as she was styling multiple stars attending, including the Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, Abbott Elementary star and creator Quinta Brunson and the model Miranda Kerr.

DailyMail.com has contacted Paster and representatives for the NYPD and the Carlyle Hotel to request comment. 

An NYPD spokesperson shared a statement with DailyMail.com on Tuesday: ‘Yesterday afternoon, a female attempted to enter the main entrance of the Carlyle Hotel when she was stopped and denied entry by hotel security.

A guest who was dragged away from the Carlyle Hotel ahead of Monday’s Met Gala has now been identified — and she’s a stylist to the stars 

On Tuesday, the woman who was allegedly ‘manhandled’ by a member of the New York Police Department was identified as the celebrity stylist Jessica Paster, according to Page Six; pictured in March 2024 in LA

Paster was styling multiple stars attending, including the Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (pictured), Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson and model Miranda Kerr

‘The individual attempted to enter the hotel a second time after being denied when officers intervened and stopped the female from entering,’ they said. ‘She was told she needed to go through the service entrance and obtain proper credentials. This female was escorted to the service entrance by police where she was then re-escorted to the main entrance by hotel security and allowed entry.’

Paster’s altercation with police and security occurred as throngs of onlookers gathered outside the Carlyle Hotel in hopes of catching a glimpse of celebrities arriving to get dressed for the nearby Met Gala or leaving in their opulent attire.

But a live feed of the entrance showed a woman, later identified as Paster, shouting, ‘I’m staying at this hotel!’

The stylist, who was clad in a gray sweatsuit, was seen being pushed back by police at security as she struggled to move toward the hotel entrance.

She shouted at the guards and staff at a smaller door to the left, before attempting to push through to the larger rotating door when two NYPD officers began dragging her away.

A woman who appeared to be hotel employee then rushed out and ushered Paster into the hotel, but the stylist walked back out to take a picture of one of the two officers who had pulled her away.

‘I’m so mad right now!’ she fumed as she searched for the second officer to take their picture, before she was ushered into the lobby.

As Paster later described the incident to Page Six, she was just following the rules about entering the hotel but was accosted by police who allegedly didn’t bother to ascertain whether she belonged there.

DailyMail.com first shared video of the confrontation, in which Paster attempted to enter the hotel — where celebrities attending New York City’s Met Gala and their entourages stay ahead of the fundraiser — before being pulled away from the front entrance by security and police

She said she was following rules and had a wristband ID, but police allegedly still tried to pull her away. ‘And all of a suddenly they attacked me, they manhandled me,’ she said

‘I’m so mad right now!’ Paster could be heard saying as she came back out to snap pictures of the officers who grabbed her after an employee ushered her into the lobby

Paster said she was in ‘a lot of pain’ after she was allegedly injured in her interaction with police. ‘[The police officer] is lucky she didn’t break my arms,’ she said 

According to a source, the video of Paster was a major topic of discussion among Met Gala attendees because of her high profile in the industry and her work with numerous A-listers. ‘Literally everyone was sending it to each other,’ they said; seen with Olivia Munn in 2019

‘I want to say that I am just a person staying at a hotel minding my own business, having the credentials on my wrist and I got manhandled,’ she claimed.

The stylist said she was following directions after ‘people’ told her to ‘go through the service door,’ but she was then told to ‘go back to the lobby.

‘And all of a suddenly they attacked me, they manhandled me,’ she alleged, even though she said she had on the wristband identification that should have told security that she was allowed to enter.

Paster said she was in ‘a lot of pain’ after she was allegedly injured in her interaction with police. 

‘[The police officer] is lucky she didn’t break my arms,’ she said.

Paster’s assistant also told the publication that anyone would have reacted similarly if they were ‘grabbed out of nowhere after following instructions.’

According to a source, the video of Paster — who wasn’t initially identified — was a major topic of discussion among Met Gala attendees because of her high profile in the industry and her work with numerous A-listers.

‘Literally everyone was sending it to each other,’ they claimed.