Carle Jasmin, based on the account of Heddy Reynaud (Photo: Heddy Reynaud)
February 7, 2025, in the early afternoon, an LGBTQIA+ community activist in Nice was the victim of a violent assault after a meeting arranged through the Grindr dating application. More than a year after the events, Heddy Reynaud, 27, has decided to speak publicly to denounce violence against LGBTQIA+ people and to question the responsibility of digital platforms and dating apps.
An LGBTQIA+ Activist Targeted After a Grindr Meeting
A member of SOS homophobie and administrator of the Centre LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur in Nice, Heddy Reynaud was 26 years old at the time of the incident. On February 7, around 2:30 p.m., he logged onto Grindr, an American application used by millions of LGBTQIA+ people worldwide. After a brief exchange with a man, the latter sent him a photo — a bearded man wearing a black beanie — and suggested a meeting presented as friendly, with no sexual connotation, on Avenue de Flores in the Pasteur district of Nice.
Upon arrival, the situation did not match what had been agreed upon. Two young men were waiting for him. Neither resembled the photo that had been sent. One was tall, in his twenties, broad-shouldered, approximately 1.80 meters tall, with short black curly hair, wearing a red tracksuit and black sneakers. The second, also in his twenties, was about 1.55 to 1.60 meters tall, with very short hair. Surprised but not immediately alarmed, Heddy Reynaud exchanged a few words before following the taller of the two.
A Brutal Assault in an Alley in Nice
They entered a dead-end alley. This is where the assault on Heddy Reynaud began. The young man positioned himself in front of him, physically blocking his path, and abruptly changed his tone. He demanded money. The victim attempted to de-escalate the situation, stating that he only had his keys and his phone, which he refused to hand over. Within seconds, the situation escalated: the attacker slammed him against a wall and began violently choking him. The second individual watched the scene. Heddy Reynaud lost consciousness.
When he regained consciousness, he was alone, disoriented, suffering from approximately one hour of memory loss, and his mobile phone was gone. His memories returned gradually, nearly two hours later, replaced by intense fear.
Serious Injuries and a Difficult Recovery
Heddy Reynaud found refuge in a medical supply store and was then taken to the hospital. The medical diagnosis revealed a head injury after his skull was struck against a wall, severe jaw pain, bruises on his lips and hands, acute pain in his coccyx and shins. He was granted four days of temporary work incapacity (ITT).
The recovery was grueling. For nearly two months, every daily action — sleeping, washing, dressing, eating — became an ordeal. Psychologically, the trauma persisted: Heddy Reynaud feared footsteps behind him, avoided going out at night, and altered his routines. He received support from the psychologist at the Centre LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur, as well as from the psychologist at the Nice central police station, with assistance from SOS homophobie.
A Complaint Filed and Unidentified Perpetrators
A complaint for assault was filed as early as February 8. A judicial request was sent to Grindr to obtain information that could help identify the perpetrators. Despite this, the attackers were never found. The case was dismissed without further action in July 2025.
Grindr and the Responsibility of Dating Platforms
For Heddy Reynaud, this case goes beyond his personal experience. He points out that LGBTQIA+ dating applications collect significant volumes of user data and have a responsibility regarding safety and the protection of potential victims. His public testimony, he believes, reflects an issue of international public interest.
Breaking the Silence and Encouraging Victims to Speak Out
By choosing to speak out openly, Heddy Reynaud aims to break the silence and encourage victims of LGBTQIA+ violence to file complaints. “Fear must change sides,” he says, determined to transform a traumatic experience into an act of civic awareness and mobilization against anti-LGBT violence.
Heddy Reynaud’s story highlights the numerous cases of homophobic attacks using Grindr to lure victims, a phenomenon we regularly address in Gay Globe. Around the world, the application has been accused of enabling hateful and violent homophobic individuals to target gay people. So much so that Grindr has previously disabled its geolocation feature during major international events, including the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, in order to protect athletes from LGBT communities.
We stand wholeheartedly with Heddy and wish him the very best for the future.
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