A model says she was targeted by two men and roofied at a popular gay bar in Los Angeles.
In a TikTok posted yesterday, Ella Halikas (@ellahalikas) says that while at the Abbey bar, two men were adamant about buying her a drink.
She says she drank less than half of the drink, and a friend told her she became unrecognizable. The two men followed her into the bathroom, and she was aided by a security guard who kicked the men out because they are “known for preying on women.”
Halikas says she doesn’t remember the rest of the night and woke up feeling sick the next morning.
“This is happening right now and can happen to you,” Halikas says about the prevalence of date rape drugs. “Had I not had my friend, had I not had that security guard, I think things would have ended very differently.”
On Wednesday, Halikas’ video had almost 75,000 views on TikTok.
@ellahalikas sharing my story😔❤️ why i’ve been so quiet lately.. this is a serious issue and i won’t stay quiet. if you’ve had a similar issue happen to you, just know you’re not alone. i love you.
♬ original sound – ella
Being given a date rape drug against your will, or being roofied, can alter your state of mind, specifically your self-defense capability against sexual assault and/or rape. Approximately 11 million women have been raped or sexually assaulted while under the influence of a date rape drug and/or alcohol, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.
Many commenters noted that Halikas said the Abbey security guard knew that the two men who drugged her preyed on women.
“Omg!! I can’t believe they’re ‘known’ for that and still allowed there?????” @hygeiaseamossboss commented.
“Those guys should be on a blacklist or something!” @thejazzyfries wrote.
In an interview with the Daily Dot, Halikas said that after reflecting on her interaction with the Abbey security guard, she doesn’t understand why men who were said to be known for predatory behavior were allowed in the establishment.
“They’re able to go to the bartender and order drinks,” Halikas told the Daily Dot. “When they’re known for this.”
She said she’s not sure if she will be pressing charges but that she received “hundreds and hundreds” of messages from people who say they were roofied at the Abbey.
“That is really scary and traumatizing,” Halikas said.
The Abbey’s Yelp reviews corroborate the anecdotes Halikas says she’s heard from people who have reached out to her since she posted about her experience. Multiple women say that they have been roofied at the bar, and some say they were taken to the emergency room.
“My friend and I were both drugged at the Abbey this past Friday night,” a review from Aug. 2 reads. “It is maddening how many people have similar stories about the Abbey. I don’t know why this place is still running.”
“I’ve had three friends roofied at this bar. If two men approach you, one will try and distract you while the other roofies you,” says a review from Aug. 10. “Please be safe!”
One woman says she was drugged by a bartender.
Halikas said that she has been contacted directly by the Abbey and that the bar said she should report what happened to her and offered to open an internal investigation. She’s not convinced, though.
“How are they still running? Has the law enforcement ever been involved?” Halikas said. “It makes me question, are they a part of the problem?”
The Abbey confirmed that it received the Daily Dot’s request for comment but did not provide a statement on Halikas’ TikTok.
Halikas further described how she felt when drugged, saying that she couldn’t control her body, kept falling over, and perceived that men were grabbing her.
“At one point, there was a ton of men on me, like three on this side, three on this side that were being like, overly sensual with me,” Halikas said. “Had I been in my right mind, I obviously wouldn’t have entertained that.”
Halikas said it took her four days to physically recover from being drugged, and she reiterated that she is taking solace right now in being able to share her story.
“I was drugged, that is a very violating feeling. And so many people can relate to that feeling,” Halikas said. “It’s OK to speak up and to not be afraid. And it’s not your fault.”
Other commenters on her video thanked Halikas for sharing her story and said that they’ve, unfortunately, been roofied as well.
“Thank you for sharing. I was roofied in 2015. It’s utterly terrifying,” @4bigolekitties commented. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. Processing it was a lot.”
“Happened to me a few years ago at a bar in NY,” @thedrama8732 wrote. “Thankfully nothing happened, but it’s still terrifying + violating.”
“I was roofied this past January and still cant believe it happened to me,” @kayla_cabrera commented. “Thank you for sharing your story.”
Others thanked Halikas for sharing her story and said that they’ve, unfortunately, been roofied as well.
“Thank you for sharing. I was roofied in 2015. It’s utterly terrifying,” @4bigolekitties commented. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. Processing it was a lot.”
“Happened to me a few years ago at a bar in NY,” @thedrama8732 wrote. “Thankfully nothing happened, but it’s still terrifying + violating.”
“I was roofied this past January and still cant believe it happened to me,” @kayla_cabrera commented. “Thank you for sharing your story.”
Update 2:18pm CT, Aug. 11: This article has been updated to include statements from the Daily Dot’s interview with Ella Halikas.
