Kanye West, also known as Ye, finds himself embroiled in serious legal battles once again. A model named Jenifer An has filed a lawsuit against him, alleging sexual assault and strangulation during the filming of the music video for La Roux's "In for the Kill" back in 2010.
An, who initially gained fame as a contestant on America's Next Top Model, claims the incident occurred at the Chelsea Hotel, where the video shoot took place. The lawsuit, filed on November 22 in federal court, accuses West of violating New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, among other allegations.
According to An's complaint, she was cast to play the role of one of the background actors for the video, and when West arrived on set, he singled her out by ordering, “Give me the Asian girl.” An stated she had been wearing very little clothing, to which West allegedly responded, “That’s why I chose you.” This comment foreshadowed the disturbing events to follow.
The lawsuit details how West allegedly began to film the assault. "On camera, defendant West began to choke the plaintiff with one hand. He then wrapped his other hand around her neck and continued to strangle her with both hands," the complaint reads. An describes feeling like she struggled to breathe and was close to blacking out.
West purportedly went as far as to ram his fingers down her throat to imitate forced oral sex, all the whilst yelling, "This is art. This is fucking art. I am like Picasso." Such grotesque actions were said to occur without any intervention from the staff or production crew on set, leaving An isolated and vulnerable.
Following the incident, An has named both Universal Music Group and Stink Digital USA LLC as co-defendants. She alleges the companies allowed West’s behavior to go unchecked and failed to enforce any kind of code of conduct on the set. "They knew or should have known about West's history of misogynistic behavior, yet they did nothing to prevent the assault," An noted.
Jesse S. Weinstein, An’s attorney, has publicly stated, “We are honored and privileged to represent Ms. An, who has displayed great courage to speak out against some of the most powerful men and entities within the entertainment industry.” Weinstein emphasized the importance of every voice and highlighted how West should be held accountable regardless of his success.
This incident and subsequent lawsuit is not an isolated event for West. Just days before An's lawsuit, another former Yeezy staff member filed allegations against him, claiming he subjected him to antisemitic rants. The string of legal troubles aligns with West’s increasingly controversial behavior, most noted for his public outbursts and problematic comments on social media.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time the rapper has faced lawsuits relating to sexual misconduct. Back in June, Lauren Pisciotta, one of West's former assistants, filed her own suit alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination, claiming West had sent her sexually explicit messages and masturbated in front of her.
Many within the industry have began questioning the practices of companies like Universal Music, which are implicated for continuing to work with artists who have well-documented histories of harassment. The contemplations extend to practices within the entertainment sector, where abusive power dynamics are not uncommon. This has led to calls for more accountability from major music labels and other entertainment entities.
"Women in the music and entertainment industries have been subject to sexual abuse for years with no recourse to speak out or implement change. This space is dangerous for women,” An expressed through her representatives. She hopes to shine light on the systemic issues within the industry, noting the urgent need for change.
Despite these allegations and the legal proceedings, West’s high-profile persona continues to shield him to some extent. Yet, growing public sentiment is demanding accountability. The case against him puts more scrutiny on not only his actions but also those who choose to work with him and turn a blind eye to past behavior.
While An seeks damages for mental, emotional, and physical distress from the ordeal, she also aims to allow her case to set a legal precedent to protect future victims of abuse within similar contexts. Evidently, as her accusations surface, the broader conversation about sexual misconduct within Hollywood and beyond is likely to intensify.
With several open lawsuits against him and a troubled history now laid bare, the world watches closely as the situation continues to develop. It remains to be seen how the courts will respond and what it means for the future of West as he navigates these severe allegations and the fallout from his past behaviors.
