Sherif Shama, a popular TikTok street photographer known for his candid portraits in Milan, is at the center of controversy after a woman publicly accused him of harassment during a trip to Italy. The woman, TikTok user Kenzie Swaine, claimed Shama followed her to her Airbnb and physically intimidated her — an allegation the photographer firmly denies.
Shama, who has amassed more than 1.5 million followers on TikTok for his spontaneous photography of strangers on the streets of Milan, addressed the accusations in a TikTok story on Friday. “Fake story,” he wrote. “If you looking to have views or money there’s different ways for that. People believe you because they didn’t listen to my side. Shame on you.”
He also posted a clip of their initial encounter, which he says took place on June 18, 2024. In the video, Shama can be seen snapping a photo of Swaine, who later commented under the video: “AHHHHH thank you I had so much fun with this.” Shama used the comment to challenge the validity of Swaine’s claims, suggesting that her behavior during and after the interaction contradicted her story.
But Swaine’s account of what happened paints a much darker picture. In a TikTok video that has since gone viral, she described her experience with Shama as “very traumatic.” She said the trouble began after they reconnected the night after their initial photo session — this time without his camera. According to her, after a drink and a walk through Milan, Shama refused to leave her alone despite her repeated objections.
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“No, but I like you,” she recalled him saying as he insisted on following her back to her lodging. Swaine said she spent nearly 45 minutes trying to get away before calling an Uber. Once the vehicle arrived, she said Shama forced himself into the car.
“I’m f**king panicking at this point,” she said, describing how the driver did not intervene while she cried and asked for help. Upon arriving at her Airbnb, she claimed things escalated further.
According to Swaine, Shama physically pushed the apartment gate into her as she tried to get inside, preventing her from breathing properly. “We’re literally pushing and pulling on the gate on opposite sides for at least 45 seconds,” she said. Eventually, she managed to lock the gate and shut him out. “He looked at me with the most sinister eyes, then just sat there and eventually walked off.”
Swaine has denied that her account was motivated by a desire for fame or money. In a follow-up video, she addressed Shama’s rebuttal and the criticism she received. “You think I want my claim to fame to be the girl that has zero survival instincts?” she said. She also stated she would be donating all income generated from her TikTok videos in June — even those unrelated to the Shama story — to charity. “Karma’s a b**** and it’s coming for you,” she added.
In the wake of the allegations, Shama initially turned off comments and deleted negative remarks on his social media. However, he has since reopened his comment sections, allowing followers to weigh in on both sides of the controversy. Despite the backlash, he has stood firm in denying all claims, asserting that the interaction has been misrepresented.
As of now, no legal action has been reported in connection to the incident. Shama has not issued any further public statement beyond his initial videos, and efforts to reach him for comment have been unsuccessful.
The incident has sparked heated debate across TikTok and other platforms, with users divided between support for Kenzie’s courage in coming forward and skepticism over the conflicting narratives. The case serves as a stark reminder of how social media can amplify personal disputes and put digital creators under intense public scrutiny.