A hairstylist to the stars was busted by undercover cops who accused him of sexually preying on a 15-year-old client at a luxury Florida salon.
Hair colorist Ryan Pearl, whose celebrity clients include Hailey Bieber, boxer Jake Paul and “Game of Thrones” alum Sophie Turner, was arrested Wednesday night in Coconut Grove, a suburb southwest of downtown Miami, according to Local 10.
The hairstylist from New Jersey was taken into custody after he allegedly made plans to meet with the minor, who was an undercover detective posing as a teenager.
Miami police started investigating Pearl after the victim’s mother found money deposits in her daughter’s Apple Wallet account and then discovered “alarming” texts between the 37-year-old stylist and her young daughter, the outlet reported.
“During controlled conversations, Pearl made sexual remarks and sent explicit photographs, fully aware he was communicating with a minor,” according to a detective’s arrest report obtained by Local 10 News.
Their communications started two years ago when she was a 13-year-old client.
“I was furious, I was very upset. I couldn’t believe someone that has a reputation, and works in a very luxury hair salon was capable of doing this,” the victim’s mother claimed.
Police took control of the teenager’s phone and claimed that Pearl sent a nude photo from his couch, according to CBS News Miami.
“I am very shy please don’t, do U care that I am 15? How old R U? Explain things to me, I only know things from my friends when they talk,” the undercover detective texted to Pearl after receiving the nude photo.
Pearl allegedly was found with pink cocaine, condoms and vaping devices when he was busted, the outlet reported.
The Redken brand ambassador was charged with several offenses, including cocaine possession, contributing to the delinquency of a child, using a computer to seduce a child into engaging in sexual conduct, traveling to meet a child after using a computer to lure them, and two counts of electronically transmitting harmful content to a minor, according to inmate records.
The colorist was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center Thursday morning.
His bond was set at $26,000.
Pearl has over 117,000 followers on his Instagram page where he flaunts his celebrity clients and styles.
He last worked at Miami’s Ollin Salon, where he charged between $200 and $650 for his hair coloring services, according to his website.
One of his most well-known looks was when he colored Bieber’s hair as a bubblegum pink bob for the 2018 Met Gala, which she attended with singer Shawn Mendes.
Read the full article here
