Bradley Cooper, actor, filmmaker, ex-lacrosse player and former travel show TV host (I only threw those last two in because they’re not widely known and I, too, played lax in college and hosted a Travel Channel show) just revealed some details of being held up at knifepoint midday on a New York City subway.
Cooper shared details about the October 2019, pre-pandemic encounter on Dax Shepard and Monica Padman’s podcast Armchair Expert today (Monday, November 29, 2021). As reported by US Weekly, Mr. Cooper said, “I used to walk around New York City all the time with these [headphones] on — this was pre-pandemic — I was on the subway [at] 11:45 to pick Lea downtown at Russian school and I got held up at knifepoint.”
“It was pretty insane,” he continues. “I realized I had gotten way, way too comfortable in the city. My guard was down. … I was all the way at the end of the subway. Innately, I would just go all the way down to the end. I felt somebody coming up. I thought, Oh they want to take a photo or something. As I turned, I’m up against the post like it’s the French Connection or some s–t, and I turned. I looked down and I see a knife.”
He said that although he was taught to never run from a knife, he lifted his elbow and started running toward the exit. “I just started booking, just started running. I jumped over the turnstile, hid around the white, tiled entrance to the subway [and] took my phone out. He jumped over, running away.”
What’s particularly disturbing about this is that it happened midday. But there are four things Cooper did wrong and all travelers can learn from his mistakes:
1. Don’t ever let your guard down
Always be aware of your surroundings, especially in this day and age and living in America. Wherever you are, know the exits and an escape route, in case something goes down. When we go to a restaurant, I always sit facing the door since I’m more observant than most. I never like to have my back to people so I always situate myself with the clearest line of vision.
2. Don’t leave both earbuds or headphones in
I’ve been telling my wife for months now not to walk around with both earphones in. She walked by me once and couldn’t hear me yelling to her. With both in, you can’t hear what’s going on around you. Just use one when you need to pay attention to your surroundings (basically any time you’re out in public.) One will be enough to hear your music, podcast or phone call but you’ll still be able to hear noise around you.
3. Don’t ride in a vacant subway car
Hanging out at the last subway car has been one of my travel tips because it’s usually the least crowded, which is especially important during rush hour and during a pandemic. But it’s also now proven to be unsafe. A too-vacant subway car makes you an easy target and leaves you vulnerable since there’s no one around to help you or deter criminal activity.
4. Don’t run from a knife or gun
As Cooper stated, he was taught to never run from a knife and yet he still did. It could have been a fatal mistake. I know it’s easy for an armchair observer to say this because you never know what your instincts will be in that moment, in that situation. But I hope that if it ever happens to me, I will be as lucky as Cooper. Maybe it was his instincts that kicked in from his lacrosse days …. when a defenseman puts a stick in your mug, you run. I might have started running, too. But if you’re cornered and someone pulls a knife on you for a robbery, then just hand everything over.
The bottom line is that America has changed recently and Cooper got lucky. Fortunately, we’re able to all learn from his mistakes.
Pay attention to the local news. Notice which stations are favored by criminals. Get into the habit of allowing extra time in your schedule to exit the subway at an earlier or later station and walk or take a cab to your destination. Likewise, if your trip begins at a station that has become dangerous, stop using it. Allow yourself time to go to a safer station.
F,,ck yea look around , back to the wall, eyes down but not too down, and NEVER the end of the platform. We can do this in an ever changing USA
I grew up in NYC… A lot of transplants and some who live in the upper west side don’t have any street smarts until they experience it themselves or know someone who does. I never rode in an empty subway car, just too risky…always be in a car where others are. Know your subway station stops, as well. Some stops are pretty much empty when you get off…. there are no more token booths as it was when I was growing up where the guy in the booth can call a cop… Consider taking a bus instead, if you don’t want to grab a cab or Uber/Lyft. I never wore headphones unless I was in a crowd of people in a safe area especially at night. Always be aware of the people around you.
All muggers are cowards and bullies. It’s sad they’re so useless. the rest of New York City will have to bring back stop and frisk to establish a bully zone.