An 89-year-old entertainer, who has been called the world’s oldest working female comedian, was brutally beaten during a random attack in Greenwich Village.
Last Wednesday around 9 a.m., D’yan Forest was walking to her gym when an unknown woman approached her at the corner of Seventh Avenue South and West 11th Street and punched her in the face.
The force of the blow knocked Forest, who has performed with Jerry Seinfeld and Joan Rivers, to the ground. The attacker fled shortly after.
“I just stand on the corner waiting to cross when the light is on,” Forest, who turns 90 next month, told the New York Post.
D’yan Forest, who has been called the world’s oldest working female comedian, was brutally beaten in a random attack in Greenwich Village
According to authorities, the suspect, who remains at large, was last seen wearing a white tank top with a Jurassic Park logo on the front.
‘I’m smiling and I’m happy, I’ve had my coffee. And then all of a sudden I got a huge blow in my eye.’
Forest was stunned by the strength of the strike.
“I didn’t know what it was. It could have been a lamppost, it hit me that hard. So I fell.”
Before the unknown woman attacked Forest, she stomped on a homeless man, the comedian said.
After the attacker brutally beat the 89-year-old woman, she leaned over her and glared at her victim, who was struggling to see out of her injured eye.
“I looked at a woman in front of me and I thought she was going to come help me because I was lying on the ground in shock,” Forest told the After.
“She frowned at me and then just kept running. So I think she was the culprit,” the comedian continued.
According to the NYPD, the attacker then fled the scene and ran west on Bank Street.
The suspect is currently still at large.
Immediately after she was struck, Forest became concerned about how her injury would affect her 90th birthday performance, scheduled for July 29 at Joe’s Pub in NoHo.
The first thing that came [over me was]Oh my God, my show, my show!’ she said. She added: ‘I don’t want to miss an eye!’
“Then people came to help me up,” Forest told the After.
‘I couldn’t see out of my left eye and I was terrified with fear. And I kept saying to them, “Is my eye still there?”‘
Immediately after she suffered a blow, Forest became concerned about how her injury would affect her 90th birthday show
Fortunately, the comedian’s eye was intact, but it was in bad shape.
She was rushed to hospital, where she spent several hours recovering before attending a performance rehearsal.
“I walked out and did my rehearsal,” the 89-year-old said.
“Of course, my director said, ‘You look terrible.’ Exactly what I needed. Because I hadn’t really seen myself,” she said.
By Thursday, the bruise on her eye was barely visible, but she explained that her blood vessels still need time to heal.
However, the attack had both psychological and physical consequences for the elderly comedian.
‘I [was] “I was a bit shocked and I didn’t want to talk about it for a few days,” she said.
At first she thought, ‘Whatever it is, it’s my fault.’
Since the brutal attack, she has also become more cautious and nervous when walking the streets she knows.
The attack had both psychological and physical effects on the elderly comedian
“It’s a little crazy. Like, ‘Is that person going to hit me?'” she said.
If she had the chance to speak to New York Mayor Eric Adams, she would implore him to solve the homelessness and mental health crisis plaguing the city.
“I would say this is what is happening now… There are more homeless, mentally ill homeless on the streets, and even in my beloved village.”
Forest, who has lived in the same building on West 10th Street since 1966, explains that what she is experiencing now is a completely new phenomenon.
“This is what I noticed this summer. Just get these people off the streets. Get them help… so 90-year-old ladies don’t get beat up!”
Forest’s sentiments echo those of many New Yorkers, who worry that violent and unprovoked crimes are ruining the city.
If she had the chance to speak to New York Mayor Eric Adams, she would implore him to solve the homelessness and mental health crisis plaguing the city.
Until this summer, the comedienne felt safe in her beloved New York City.
“There are a lot of homeless people in my neighborhood,” she said, adding, “This has never happened before.”
Born near Boston in 1934, Forest began performing after her marriage broke up in 1962. She later moved to Paris, where she headlined cabaret clubs.
Her career has spanned half a century and she has shared the stage with stars such as Jim Gaffigan and Drew Barrymore.
According to Forest, he has also performed on such venerable venues as Saturday Night Live, France’s Got Talent, Comedy Central and Joe’s Pub. Forbes.
Two years ago, at the age of 87, she was awarded the title of ‘World’s Oldest Working Female Comedian’ by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The 89-year-old comedienne is now responding to her attack with her trademark humor.
Two years ago, when she was 87, the Guinness Book of World Records awarded her the title of ‘World’s Oldest Working Female Comedian’
“I’m getting better. I can joke about it,” she told the After‘A few days ago I couldn’t joke about it.’
“Who knows, I might make a song about it. You never know,” she said.
According to authorities, the suspect was last seen wearing a white tank top with a Jurassic Park logo on the front.
Police are asking anyone with information about the suspect to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).