Police investigating alleged hate crime attack on Carla from Bankstown

Police are investigating an alleged incident of offensive behaviour towards former Celebrity Apprentice star Carla From Bankstown while they were shopping in Sydney at the weekend.

Police are investigating an alleged incident of offensive behaviour towards former Celebrity Apprentice star Carla From Bankstown.

The entertainer, who is the alter ego of Benjahmin James, told Confidential he was “very scared, shaking and crying,” after he was nearly run over while leaving his local supermarket on Sunday afternoon.

The beloved drag character also faced homophobic and fatphobic remarks from the two men who continued to laugh at him.

James was not dressed in character and was simply picking up some groceries at his local supermarket in the Bankstown area.

“I’ve been bullied most of my life and I know how to deal with it,” James told Confidential.

“It wasn’t so much the words that they were using and abusing me. It was more the fact they were trying to run me over with their car, which was not okay by any capacity.

“They put their foot on the accelerator when I was 10 metres from them, and they literally floored it and just missed me by half a metre.”

The men allegedly proceeded to follow and hurl several “hurtful” comments at the TV and social media personality.

Carla from Bankstown has detailed an alleged hate crime attack at the weekend. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I ran off, and they continued to drive slowly calling me names,” he said.

“They called me a f*****, saying you’re a gay c***, f*** you, you fat piece of s***.”

NSW Police have since commenced an investigation into the incident.

“Following inquiries, police are hoping to speak to the driver and passenger of a grey BMW SUV with a blue licence plate seen in the area at the time of the incident,” a police statement to Confidential read.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Bankstown Police or Crime Stoppers.

James also shared details of the incident to social media, speaking up in the hope of helping others that may have been targeted.

Carla from Bankstown Instagram post alleging she was the victim of a homophobic attack in Sydney. Picture: Instagram

He said he was saddened to note that several witnesses walked away as the dramatic incident unfolded.

“No one did anything. Everyone just kind of looked and walked off,” he said.

“I’ve taken a small break from posting on social media and going out and doing events just because my mental health hasn’t been the best the last couple of months.

“It’s just insane that this is still happening in this day and age.”

Carla from Bankstown shot to fame in 2021 with her tongue-in-cheek videos as she satirised the state’s political and media figures from her bedroom. Portraying the character of former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s ‘assistant’ was particularly notable.

She is now one of Australia’s most famous drag queens and has worked with several big brands including Uber Eats, 7-Eleven, Domino’s, V Energy Drinks.