Resurfaced Video Shows Marc Lamont Hill Getting Pepper Sprayed Onstage — He Chose Healing Over Charges

A 2024 video of Marc Lamont Hill getting pepper sprayed onstage has resurfaced—and it’s just as wild the second time around. The clip shows Hill calmly speaking at an event when a woman casually walks up and sprays him in the face. Without missing a beat, he stumbles and dives behind a curtain as the crowd gasps in disbelief.

The footage is shocking, but the story behind it is even deeper. After the incident, Hill took to X to set the record straight. He confirmed that the attack happened in January 2024 and explained that the woman believed he was part of a bizarre conspiracy involving the CIA, political activist Mumia Abu Jamal, and even the President of the United States.

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Despite being the target of an unprovoked and public assault, Hill didn’t press charges. Instead, he leaned into a restorative justice approach, working directly with the woman’s family and community members. What he found was heartbreaking — the woman had endured serious childhood abuse and was struggling with major mental health issues.

“I have done my best to make sure that she receives social and mental health support to help her heal as best as possible,” Hill said in his statement.

In an era where viral moments usually end in cancellation or courtrooms, Hill’s response stood out. He took a traumatic experience and turned it into a moment of compassion. Rather than criminalizing someone clearly in crisis, he extended empathy — and in doing so, sparked a conversation about how we choose to handle harm, accountability, and healing in real time.