Black writer for The Bear says elderly white woman led to his arrest on an MTA train

A Black writer for the FX series The Bear says he was detained by New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police after an elderly woman complained about the way he was sitting on a train, according to a video he posted on social media. Alex O'Keefe, who also worked as a speechwriter for Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, said the incident occurred Thursday while he was on a route to Connecticut and that he was taken into custody after a complaint from a passenger.

In the video, the unidentified woman—wearing a blue face mask and bright yellow glasses perched on her head—can be seen while MTA officers approach and, moments later, place O'Keefe in handcuffs. O'Keefe, who can be heard in the clip challenging the arrest, frames the confrontation as a consequence of a private dispute that escalated into police action. He repeatedly tells the officers that he has not done anything illegal and questions the basis for the arrest as he is escorted off the train.

As the confrontation unfolds, O'Keefe says the woman who complained about his seating did so because she did not approve of where he had placed his feet. In the video, he adds that the woman “complained to the conductor about the posture,” and he later asserts that she “called the police to arrest the one black dude on the train.” The officers, asking what crime he has committed, respond that he is being arrested for being disorderly, to which O'Keefe replies that his actions were simply related to sitting on a train.

On the platform, O'Keefe recounts that the police detained and interrogated him without speaking to the complainant first. He notes that he demanded a lawyer and says the officers did not take a statement from the woman who reported him before releasing him. “I haven't done anything illegal,” he repeats in the clip, even as he is led away. He later posted that he was released after being held on the platform and that only Black people remained nearby to record the arrest.

The post includes images showing O'Keefe with his hands behind his back and surrounded by four officers on the platform, and a caption describing the moment of his release. In his writing, he adds that the officers did not take a formal statement from the woman, and that his interactions with police raised questions about due process and accountability in public transit policing.

The Daily Mail said it had contacted both the MTA and O'Keefe for comment regarding the incident. The clip quickly circulated online, prompting a range of reactions from viewers. Some commenters defended O'Keefe, while others urged calm and called for due process and further information about what happened and why the officers acted as they did. Social-media discussions centered on concerns about potential racial bias and the treatment of riders in crowded transit environments.

O'Keefe is a member of the Writers Guild of America and participated in the 2023 writers' strike, which highlighted working conditions and compensation for writers in major markets. He has described his writing process and living situation in prior interviews, noting that he has often worked from a Brooklyn apartment and has traveled to writers' rooms when needed, including interviews about the realities of screenwriting and production work in contemporary television.

Beyond his work on The Bear, O'Keefe has served as a speechwriter for Warren and Markey, contributing to policy communications and public messaging. His public posts about the incident have drawn attention to the broader conversation about race, policing, and safety in public transit, particularly in New York. He has urged observers to consider the events in the context of ongoing debates about civil rights, constitutional protections, and the treatment of Black riders on urban transit systems.

Reaction on social media ranged from expressions of support to calls for accountability and a clearer account of the scenario from the MTA. Some users urged patience as investigators review video and statements; others argued that confrontations on trains can escalate quickly and require careful handling by law enforcement. The MTA has not publicly released a statement in this report, and officials did not offer further information beyond what is visible in public posts and the video supplied by O'Keefe.

The episode arrives amid broader national discussions about how city transit systems police themselves and interact with riders of different racial backgrounds. Advocates have long pressed for better training and oversight of transit police, along with clearer policies to protect riders' rights while maintaining safety in busy rail vehicles and stations. The incident also highlights the role of social media in elevating individual experiences into nationwide conversations, sometimes before any formal inquiry has produced findings.

As investigations continue, observers will be watching for whether the MTA clarifies the events that led to the arrest, whether any formal complaints were filed, and how transit authorities address concerns about bias in enforcement. O'Keefe has said he intends to pursue the matter publicly, arguing for accountability and transparency in how transit police respond to complaints from passengers of all backgrounds. Authorities stress the need for due process, while riders and advocates alike emphasize the importance of ensuring that confrontations on public transit are handled with fairness and respect for civil rights.