Girl with Noise-Canceling Headphones Pepper Sprays Iowa City Human Interest Photographer

The incident happened on Iowa Avenue right outside Basta.

Gracie Bonnet had just gotten done with her classes for the day and put on her pink, noise-canceling Apple AirPod Max headphones to listen to music that put her “in the zone.” Leaving a science lecture in MacBride Hall, Gracie picked up her french vanilla latte order from Dunkin and turned the corner onto Iowa Avenue toward her apartment.

Coincidentally, it was the pink headphones that caught photographer Cameron McNamara's eye. Cameron had been taking his usual walk, trying to scout subjects for his viral Instagram page where he photographs the people of Iowa City. He thought the bright shade of Gracie’s headphones would capture well on camera, and decided to approach her.

Gracie remembers the incident differently. “I was in the zone listening to my music. Clairo’s ‘Bags - Recorded at Electric Lady Studios,’ to be exact. I was walking home and not thinking much about it. He was following me around the block, and I could hear him say something as he got closer. I turned around and it looked like he was going to grab me.”

Cameron said he had extended his hand toward Gracie as a warm gesture, as he figured that she would not be able to hear him. That’s when Gracie’s quick reflexes grabbed the pepper spray attached to the LuluLemon keychain she was carrying on her wrist.

After turning around fully and spraying Cameron, Gracie had realized immediately he was the viral Iowa City photographer who she had seen on social media. Cameron fell to his knees on the sidewalk, screaming in pain. That was when a quick-thinking Basta employee working the outdoor patio took a water carafe and poured it on his eyes. Thankfully, no damages were done to Cameron’s DSLR.

“I understand that women are apprehensive when I approach them on the street. The alarm bells come with the job,” Cameron stated.

Cameron does not plan to press charges against Gracie for assault.