March 09, 2025 – Prince George’s County, MD – A Maryland hairstylist is facing legal consequences after a shocking video she posted online went viral, depicting her dragging a 15-year-old client across her salon floor in a heated dispute over payment. The incident, which occurred earlier this month in Prince George’s County, has drawn widespread attention and condemnation, leading to second-degree assault charges against the stylist.
The hairstylist, identified as 18-year-old Jayla Cunningham, allegedly became embroiled in a confrontation with the teenage client after completing a $150 hair service that included installing a weave. According to reports from FOX 5 DC and court records reviewed by the New York Post, the altercation began when the teen attempted to leave the salon without paying, claiming she had sent the payment via CashApp. Cunningham, however, insists she never received the funds, prompting her to take drastic action.
In the now-infamous video, originally uploaded to Cunningham’s own social media account under the handle “Jayla Amora,” the stylist can be seen grabbing the teen by her hoodie and dragging her back into the salon. “Sit right here until somebody sends it,” Cunningham is heard yelling in the footage. “I’m not f****** playing. You just tried to f****** run. You lucky I ain’t beat the s*** out you.” The video later shows Cunningham using scissors to cut the weave out of the teen’s hair, an act she defended as a means to reclaim her unpaid work.
Cunningham told FOX 5’s Shomari Stone that she acted out of frustration, stating, “I dragged her by her hood back into the salon until I could get paid or, you know, until the police come or until she let me take out the service, because it’s like she literally ran outside, like she was about to be gone.” She argued that without intervening, the teen would have “taken advantage” of her services.
The teen’s mother, speaking exclusively to FOX 5, painted a different picture, alleging that her daughter had accidentally sent the payment to the wrong CashApp account, sparking the misunderstanding. “It’s just absolutely absurd. It’s viral. It’s all over the country,” the mother said, visibly shaken. She accused Cunningham of grabbing her daughter’s hair along with the hoodie, leaving the 15-year-old traumatized and emotionally distressed. “Not good at all,” she added when asked about her daughter’s well-being.
Prince George’s County police arrested Cunningham on Friday, charging her with second-degree assault, a misdemeanor that carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine under Maryland law. She was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 18. The investigation remains active, with authorities reviewing additional evidence, including witness statements and any available salon security footage.
The video, which has garnered over 54 million views across platforms like X and Instagram, has ignited a firestorm of public reaction. Social media users have expressed a mix of outrage and debate, with some condemning Cunningham’s actions as unprofessional and excessive, while others argue she was justified in protecting her livelihood. “Any hairstylist that would do that to a client clearly doesn’t have a state license!” wrote Instagram user
@__realestate2, while
@43jaay countered, “If she was in the right, charges wouldn’t have been filed lol. You can’t justify dragging a 15-year-old.”
The teen’s family has retained Jackson and Associates, an Upper Marlboro law firm, to represent them. Attorney De’Aja Thompson called the incident “horrendous” in an interview with FOX 5, emphasizing the age disparity and the minor’s vulnerability. “It’s a 15-year-old girl. We’re talking about someone’s child here,” Thompson said. “A child who is being dragged across a salon floor by her jacket over something as simple as a mistake.”
