Just months after the controversial trial that captivated national attention, Daniel Penny — the former Marine acquitted in the death of Jordan Neely — reemerged in an unexpected and dramatic new role: that of a fashion model.
On April 5, 2025, Penny took to the runway at Manhattan’s annual “Dress to Kilt” charity fashion show, stepping confidently into the limelight in a Scottish kilt, as he embraced a moment of reinvention amid lingering public debate over his past actions. The event was held at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, an Upper East Side venue steeped in history and chosen for its long-standing association with veterans.
Penny’s appearance marks a notable public return following his high-profile trial and subsequent acquittal in the 2023 subway incident that resulted in the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man whose erratic behavior on the train led to a fatal confrontation.
Daniel Penny’s runway debut not only drew applause from the audience but also reignited discussions surrounding his role in the deadly encounter and his current public image as both a controversial figure and, to some, a hero.
A Dramatic Return to the Public Eye
Daniel Penny’s walk down the runway was more than a fashion moment — it was a symbolic return to public life. Dressed in traditional Highland wear as part of the fashion show’s “Country Couture – From the Scottish Highlands to Fifth Avenue” theme, Penny beamed with a wide smile as Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” blasted through the speakers.
The song choice seemed purposeful, echoing the praise and narrative offered by the event’s organizers, who described Penny as courageous and noble for his actions in the subway incident.
Geoffrey Scott Carroll, the co-founder of Dress to Kilt, introduced Penny by highlighting his Marine background and tracing his family’s Scottish lineage back to the 12th century. Carroll’s tone was unequivocally supportive: “Far from being a villain, this man was a hero to all the inhabitants of that subway car,” he said.
He emphasized that Penny had acted when women, children, and elderly passengers were allegedly being threatened, implying that his intervention, though tragic in outcome, was rooted in protection.
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Penny’s appearance was cheered by attendees of the prestigious Scottish fashion event, which has seen prominent participants in the past, including Ivanka Trump, comedian Mike Meyers, and actor Alan Cumming.
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Still, the sight of Penny modeling at such an event, just four months after his acquittal in a highly polarizing case, inevitably raised questions. Was this an attempt at personal redemption, a strategic pivot to reshape public perception, or simply a man trying to move on with life?
The Shadow of Jordan Neely’s Death
While the applause echoed inside the fashion venue, the legacy of the incident that brought Penny into the national spotlight loomed large. In May 2023, a video surfaced showing Daniel Penny restraining Jordan Neely on a New York City subway using a headlock.
Neely, a homeless man known for frequent public outbursts and suffering from mental health issues, was reportedly shouting threats and behaving aggressively toward passengers. Though unarmed, Neely’s erratic behavior led Penny to subdue him in what he claimed was an act of self-defense and protection of fellow passengers.
The altercation ended fatally. Neely died from the chokehold, and the incident rapidly became a flashpoint for political and social commentary.
Supporters of Penny framed him as a Good Samaritan who stepped in to prevent possible harm, while critics saw the use of lethal force as unnecessary and symbolic of broader issues such as systemic violence against the homeless and mentally ill.
Penny was eventually charged with criminally negligent homicide. His trial became a magnet for national media coverage and ignited passionate debate across social, racial, and political lines. Protesters and activists demanded accountability, while conservative voices rallied behind him, portraying him as a victim of over-prosecution and political scapegoating.
In December 2024, a jury acquitted Penny of all charges, ruling that he had not acted with criminal negligence. The verdict was met with mixed reactions — relief and vindication for his supporters, and outrage and sorrow for those who viewed Neely’s death as preventable and unjust.
Penny himself remained largely silent after the trial, avoiding media appearances and declining interviews. That changed with his surprise modeling debut.
From Controversy to Couture: A New Chapter
The Dress to Kilt event is not your typical fashion show. Founded in 2003 by the late James Bond actor Sean Connery and Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll, it has grown to become the most prestigious Scottish-themed fashion event globally.
More than just a runway show, Dress to Kilt is a charity event, with proceeds benefiting veterans’ organizations, including the Navy SEAL Foundation, which supports families of active-duty and fallen SEALs.
Penny’s presence at such a cause-driven event wasn’t accidental. As a former Marine, his inclusion aligned with the event’s military support themes. For the organizers, it was a way to honor service, and for Penny, perhaps an avenue to reframe his identity beyond that of the man involved in Neely’s death.
The event’s historic location, the Church of the Heavenly Rest, was also chosen for its veteran support roots — a post-Civil War parish that historically offered aid to soldiers in need.The narrative surrounding Penny at the event was carefully constructed.
He was introduced as a proud New Yorker with deep Scottish ancestry, a disciplined Marine, and someone who had acted heroically in a difficult situation. There was no mention of the ongoing controversy, no hint of the protests that once called for his incarceration. Instead, the show presented a carefully curated image of honor, heritage, and redemption.
Yet public memory is not so easily reshaped. Outside the bubble of the fashion world, reactions to Penny’s modeling debut remained sharply divided. While some viewed it as an inspiring moment of personal recovery and symbolic resilience, others saw it as a tone-deaf move — a celebration too soon after a death that, though not deemed criminal, remains the subject of ongoing moral debate.
Penny, for his part, declined to speak with the media at the event. He offered no comment to The New York Post or other outlets. His silence left interpretation open to the public. Was this silence a continuation of his post-trial discretion, or an intentional choice to let his actions — or fashion steps — speak louder than words?
The use of the catwalk as a stage for redefining identity is not new, but Penny’s case stands apart due to its gravity. A modeling debut, no matter how polished, does not erase the memory of Jordan Neely’s final moments, nor the public’s lingering unease with how the legal system handled the matter.
Still, for some attendees, Penny’s appearance offered closure or even catharsis. For them, he represents the type of ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances who acted decisively under pressure. The fashion world, with its flair for dramatic transformations and reinvention, might have found in Penny a complex figure — one whose journey from subway to spotlight captures the very essence of a divided American conscience.
As the evening ended, and the kilts and couture faded into memory, Daniel Penny’s unexpected presence left a lasting impression. Whether seen as a redemption arc or a controversial reinvention, his runway walk ensured that his story — and the debate surrounding it — continues.