A Maryland hairstylist whose own social media post helped ignite a viral controversy has been sentenced in a case involving a physical altercation with a teenage client over an unpaid service.
On January 22, Jayla A. Cunningham, 19, was ordered to serve six months of home detention after a Prince George’s County jury convicted her of second-degree assault late last year.
The sentence includes a total of five years, with all but six months suspended, followed by probation and mandatory mental health and anger management treatment.
The incident dates back to March, when Cunningham—then 18—was operating a licensed, home-based hair-braiding business in Temple Hills, Maryland. A dispute erupted after a 15-year-old client allegedly attempted to leave without paying the agreed-upon $150 fee for a weave installation.
Cunningham later posted a video of the confrontation herself, which quickly spread across social platforms and racked up tens of millions of views.
In the footage, Cunningham can be seen pulling the teen by her hood toward the doorway and cutting the weave out of her hair with scissors. Speaking to FOX 5 DC shortly after the video went viral, Cunningham defended her actions.
“She ran. Forget trash, she ran without paying me,” Cunningham said at the time. “I dragged her by her hood back into the salon until I could get paid or until the police come.”
Charging documents later filed by the girl’s mother described the teen as being “pulled and dragged by her hair,” though prosecutors acknowledged the video itself does not clearly show hair being pulled.
The documents also alleged that Cunningham told the girl not to move until she was paid and approached her with scissors in a way meant to intimidate her. Prosecutors said the teen attempted to pay electronically before the situation escalated.
At sentencing, Cunningham addressed Michael Pearson of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court, asking for leniency.
“I really do regret what I did,” she said. “Can you have faith in me?”
Pearson acknowledged her youth but emphasized the seriousness of the conduct captured on video. “The disregard you showed that young lady on that day is unacceptable,” he said, adding that he hoped Cunningham would learn from the experience.
Cunningham’s attorney argued that she had already suffered significant consequences, including losing her business and her apartment. Court records also revealed that she was dealing with mental health struggles at the time and later sent an apology to the teen.
Despite the home detention sentence, Cunningham was taken into custody due to an unrelated failure-to-appear warrant, which was addressed separately by the court.
