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LAS VEGAS (Gambling911.com) - Two Las Vegas tourists visiting from North Carolina say they were attacked by two street performers dressed as showgirls. A bloody brawl ensued and resulted in the arrests of both street performers.
Reports suggest the performers were not happy with the $20 tip they were given after having their photos taken with the tourists.
The incident, which took place on Sept. 30 outside the Planet Hollywood resort, left both tourists injured, with one victim allegedly struck more than 22 times and bludgeoned with a high-heeled boot.
Tipping is voluntary and a $20 tip per showgirl is considered by many to be generous, especially if only one photo was taken. The vast majority of international tourists will typically not tip, as tipping culture tends to be common primarily in North America.
The Las Vegas Police report states that the two unidentified individuals stopped to pose for photos with three women dressed in elaborate showgirl attire, handed the performers a $20 tip, then began to walk away.
One of the alleged attackers, Jennifer Ortiz, demanded a tip between $60 and $180. When the tourists refused to pay, the verbal confrontation quickly turned physical.
Surveillance footage and a separate bystander video captured the ensuing chaos. Police noted that Ortiz removed her white high-heeled boot during the attack and used it as a weapon, striking a tourist in the forehead and leaving a nearly 2-inch laceration. A female tourist had her hair pulled violently.
A male tourist can also be seen shirtless, with blood smeared across his face, attempting to intervene by pushing one of the showgirls to the ground and shouting for the women to stop.
The video has since gone viral over the past week.
After law enforcement arrived, both tourists received medical evaluations at the scene. Although they declined to be taken to a hospital, they provided written statements to investigators and requested that criminal charges be filed.
The showgirls offered a different account of what led up to the brawl when questioned by police. Ortiz claimed that the tourists were the initial aggressors and that she had been struck first. Her associate, Magdellena Romero, said she had only joined the fight to defend her friend. Romero was also arrested during the incident.
Police eventually booked both women into the Clark County Detention Center. Ortiz faces charges of battery and obtaining money under false pretenses involving less than $1,200.
Romero was booked on a single charge of battery. Court records also revealed that Ortiz was already under an active court order requiring her to stay out of trouble following a separate but similar confrontation at the Fremont Street Experience in March.
Another male individual had previously filed a police report against the same group. That complainant claimed he offered to pay the performers $60 for a set of photos but later found he had been charged $218 on the debit card he used to tap against Ortiz’s smartphone.
When he tried to confront the women about the alleged overcharge, they reportedly gave him a fake telephone number, leaving him unable to resolve the dispute with them.
Neither Ortiz or Romero were confirmed to be professional Las Vegas showgirls.
Not since Elizabeth Berkley have Vegas showgirls been seen in such a bad light.
There is an obvious contrast between professional performers—who rehearse, audition and work in legitimate productions— with independent photo hustlers wearing feathers. But that distinction is not likely to be understood by the average tourist.
Despite becoming synonymous with Vegas, showgirls have historically worked for different productions, casinos and entertainment companies. This means there is not necessarily one entity that could sue on behalf of the entire profession.
Some argue that the Las Vegas/Clark County could address future issues without prohibiting street performance by requiring clearer rules around solicitation.
If performers expect $20, $40 or $60 for a photo, that should be disclosed before the picture. Calling something a voluntary “tip” and then demanding a specific amount afterward is where many confrontations begin.
The incident is yet another black eye for Las Vegas, where residents, casino workers and even some casino executives have complained that soaring prices are driving tourists away. Official tourism statistics suggest those concerns are not unfounded, with visitor numbers continuing to decline. Gambling911.com recently interviewed a handful of Uber drivers who said they now have to work several additional hours to earn the same income, while others have become increasingly reliant on convention and conference visitors.
Both of the street performers arrested face battery charges. Their next scheduled court appearance is December 3, 2026.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
