‘You’re dead’: Perth busker Nicholas Ferralis fights back heckler

A popular Perth busker has shared a video of a tense encounter with a member of the public, dividing opinion about his response.

A busker in Perth has shared a video of a heated encounter with a heckler on the street, dividing opinion on social media about his response.

Nicholas Ferralis was busking in the inner-city suburb of Northbridge late one evening recently when the incident occurred.

In a clip posted to TikTok last week, Ferralis explains that he used to “walk away from such situations” but now feels “safer and empowered in situations where I have to defend myself”.

Perth busker Nicholas Ferralis has shared a video of a tense encounter with a member of the public.

A man can be seen getting in the singer’s face and trying to sing into his microphone, prompting Ferralis to push him back.

“Don’t push me, brother,” the man says. “Respect our space but don’t touch.”

Ferralis tells him “you are in my space” and the mood quickly becomes tense, with the busker telling his heckler to move on.

“I will only tell you once. I’m serious now – I’m really serious. I will kick you in the face.”

Nicholas Ferralis is a regular fixture in Perth's busking scene.

Yelling and swearing can be heard off camera, including threats like “you’re dead” and Ferralis, who’s trained in Muay Thai, moves into a fighting stance.

In comments on the video, he explains that the man eventually left the area.

“Set the boundary firmly, give a warning that you’re dead serious about what’s about to happen, and let them make a decision, being ready to act on it,” he wrote.

“I used to walk away from such situations in the past, where strangers disrespected me and invaded my personal space in public while I was performing.

“Most of them think they’re tough, picking on those who don’t react. Now that I understand more about Australian law and have my Australian citizenship, I feel safer and empowered, especially in situations where I have to defend myself.”

Perth busker Nicholas Ferralis has shared a video of a tense encounter with a member of the public.

Perth busker Nicholas Ferralis has shared a video of a tense encounter with a member of the public.

He added that busking on the street, particularly at night, “has its downsides, but I know one day it’ll all be worth it”.

The video attracted a flood of comments, including racist remarks and vitriol directed at the heckler. Some felt Ferralis overreacted.

But there were plenty who supported the singer defending himself and admiring his fighting stance.

It’s not the first time Ferralis has found himself in scary situations with members of the public, with other clips on his social media accounts showing a woman trying to attack him, a woman groping him, and a seemingly intoxicated man trying to grab his microphone.

Originally published as ‘You’re dead’: Perth busker Nicholas Ferralis fights back heckler