The Naked Cowboy, a 27-year street performer in Times Square, reported being harassed for approximately 30 minutes by an agitated man just days after a fatal stabbing occurred nearby. The incident left the performer, identified as Robert Burck, feeling shaken.
Video of the encounter shows a man lunging and verbally abusing Burck, following him from block to block. Burck described the man as wielding a scarf like a whip, bringing it close to his face and body. Onlookers largely observed and recorded the event, with one bystander heard telling the aggressor to "Get your pills."
Burck, 55, stated that the confrontation was unnerving, leading him to believe "anything can happen," especially in light of the recent fatal stabbing. A 32-year-old Bank of America executive and mother was killed in a separate incident in Times Square earlier that week. "You just hope they don’t kill ya," Burck told the New York Post. "I’m shaking in my boots but acting calm."
Despite the fear, Burck said he attempted to de-escalate the situation by singing love ballads. He noted the difficulty in regulating his breathing during the prolonged encounter. The man who harassed Burck reportedly wore shorts, a jacket, and a backpack, and directed insults at the performer, including "You ain’t no gangster."
Burck, who has performed in Times Square for nearly three decades, acknowledged the inherent vulnerability of performers in public spaces. He expressed concern that the recent stabbing incident might embolden others to engage in disruptive or dangerous behavior, though he attempted not to dwell on worst-case scenarios during the harassment.