Couple beaten up outside Isle of MTV after-party in suspected homophobic attack

A gay couple said they were beaten up as they planned to attend an Isle of MTV after party in what they believe was a homophobic attack.

Kurt Falzon and his fiancé had earlier joined thousands at the Katy Perry concert and were making their way to the after event at Gianpula when they were attacked at around 2 am. 

“Out of nowhere, a group of tourists came up to me and punched me in the jaw,” Kurt Falzon said. “My fiancé was the main target, with around five individuals attacking him while I tried to protect and defend him.” 

Falzon said his partner had scratches all over his face and a black eye, while Fazon suffered slight injuries to his neck and woke up dizzy and vomiting following the assault.

One of the couple was left with a black eye while the other had scratches to his neck. Photo: Kurt Falzon

Falzon said neither he nor his partner had done anything to provoke their attackers.

“The only thing is that I dress controversially, but I’m not bothering anyone with that,” he said. “From the start, they were also calling me a ‘bitch’ in Polish, ‘kurwa’,” he said.

The use of the slur and the way Falzon was dressed made him suspect the attack had homophobic motivations.

‘Bouncers stopped me, not them’

Falzon said nearby security staff intervened, but only to stop him from defending his fiancé.

“They grabbed me by the neck to stop me. At the same time, they let the tourists beat my fiancé up.”

Falzon was speaking to Times of Malta from the polyclinic waiting to receive treatment and to have his injuries certified by a doctor. He then planned to file a police report.

Requesting a medical certificate certifying the severity of injuries is standard police practice when residents file reports about violent incidents.

Questions have been sent to Gianpula Village.