Reality star couple call out California’s crime problem after Hollywood road rage attack left them fearing for their lives

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A couple known from reality television are urging Los Angeles officials to do more to combat crime, following an incident where they say they were threatened during a road rage encounter and genuinely feared for their safety.

Fashion designer Pol Atteu and his husband, Patrik Simpson, were at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Vine Street in West Hollywood on Sunday when they say another driver in a Toyota 4Runner swerved in front of them and intentionally hit their car.

Simpson and Atteu are popular figures in Hollywood, known for dressing many celebrities. Their designs, under the Pol’ Atteu Couture label, have been worn by stars like Carrie Underwood, Hillary Clinton, and the late Anna Nicole Smith.

The couple, stars of an Amazon Prime reality show, were terrified when a man began attacking their expensive car. They locked themselves inside as he punched the window and kicked the door.

‘I thought he was gonna kill us. I thought I was going to die,’ Atteu told the Daily Mail.

‘We were literally like trapped rats. And then he came running towards the car and I saw my life flash before my eyes,’ Simpson added. ‘I think if he had broken that window then we would not be here today.’

The man drove away in his Toyota, and the couple followed at a distance while calling 911 to report what had happened.

Atteu was surprised to learn the dispatcher instructed them to stop following the driver, warning they could be legally responsible for any damage that occurred while chasing the vehicle.

Simpson explained that it felt like the other party was attempting to blame them for simply following the man’s instructions.

We were simply trying to get the license plate number. Without it, we couldn’t proceed with catching and prosecuting the suspect.

Once they stopped the car, the couple pleaded with the dispatcher to have a police officer come and look at the damage to their Mercedes.

Once an officer eventually arrived, the couple claim that they were told to file a report online.

Atteu explained that he expected them to ask for his contact details, like his name and information, so they could follow up with him later.

Simpson explained that the police didn’t provide any assistance when he was being harassed or confronted, regardless of the specific legal definition of what happened.

The couple reported the vandalism to the police, and a copy of the report was obtained by the Daily Mail. They’ve also posted a video of the incident on social media, where they have over 320,000 followers, to try and address the situation themselves.

‘I think in this day and age you have to be your own champion,’ said Simpson.

‘I’m not saying that you take justice into your own hands, but you have to seek accountability.’

This isn’t the first time the couple has experienced California’s crime issues, unfortunately.

In 2019, Atteu was seriously injured after being attacked at a charity fashion show held at St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles.

Jesus Rodolfo Zepeda was the person responsible, and he acted out of anger because his daughter wasn’t chosen for the fashion show.

Zepeda was initially arrested and held in jail after the event, but was later released because of overcrowding and restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He wasn’t sentenced to prison until 2024, after being found guilty of assault. He received a five-year suspended sentence, meaning he avoided significant jail time. He only spent four days in county jail, and the time he’d already served was counted towards his sentence.

Simpson explained that the couple worked hard to get the court to recognize the attack as a hate crime, and they were ultimately successful.

According to Simpson, the attack on Pol at the fashion show was a homophobic hate crime, but authorities didn’t want to charge the attacker as such.

‘And we pushed and pushed and pushed and they finally did prosecute him and he was convicted.’

The couple shared that their house was burglarized several years ago. The thieves took their jewelry and, heartbreakingly, also stole the ashes of Simpson’s mother.

People in Los Angeles are increasingly worried about rising crime and believe criminals aren’t being held responsible for their actions.

‘I’ve been living in Los Angeles my whole life and it’s become so much more dangerous,’ Atteu said.

It seems like people believe they can be rude and disrespectful without consequences, assuming nothing will happen – that the police won’t intervene and no one will hold them accountable.

‘I feel like we’re living in the wild, wild west,’ Simpson added.

Things have really changed lately. People are feeling desperate and are acting recklessly, because they believe they won’t face any consequences for their actions.

The couple says that several of their affluent friends have also been victims of crime lately.

‘Half our friends have been broken into,’ said Atteu.

I was just speaking with a friend in Bel Air who was recently burglarized. Someone broke in through the back door and stole her Birkin bags and any visible jewelry. They quickly grabbed what they could and are now selling the stolen items online.

Even after everything that happened, the couple – known for their Amazon Prime reality show, Gown and Out in Beverly Hills – are determined to move forward and not let it negatively impact their lives.

Simpson stated they will continue to live their life openly and authentically, without changing how they choose to do things.

If we can raise awareness about this road rage incident, and similar ones, then we’re making a positive impact.

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2026-04-01 19:36