Martin Kove, the 78-year-old actor famed for his role as John Kreese in the beloved Netflix series Cobra Kai, has found himself at the center of a troubling controversy following an incident at the Washington State Summer Con in Puyallup last weekend. Kove allegedly bit his co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim, 37, on the arm so hard that it nearly drew blood, sparking outrage and police involvement.
The incident reportedly occurred when Hannah-Kim, who plays Kim Da-Eun—a powerful South Korean sensei and a character intertwined with Kove's Kreese—approached Kove to say hello by tapping him on the shoulder. According to a Puyallup Police Department report obtained by multiple news outlets, Kove suddenly grabbed Hannah-Kim's arm and bit her upper arm with such force that she screamed in pain. The officer’s report detailed that after biting her, Kove then kissed the very spot where he had bitten her.
Hannah-Kim showed the police a very noticeable bite mark on her upper left bicep, which was already turning blue and bruising. She told the officer, “I would like it to go on his record, on the record between me and him, so that he cannot ever do this to me again.”
Following the incident, Hannah-Kim and her husband, actor Sebastian Roché, confronted Kove. The confrontation reportedly escalated, with Kove becoming “furious and outraged and visibly angry,” according to the police report. Bodycam footage obtained by TMZ and DailyMail.com reveals a heated exchange where Hannah-Kim chastised Kove, saying, “You cannot bite people, that is not okay! You have left a mark on my body, which in your 80-year-old brain, you think is play.” She further expressed her anger by declaring, “I’m ashamed of your dignity as an 80-year-old man to scream at a lady that you just BIT.”
Kove, in his defense, described the biting as a misguided attempt at playful behavior rooted in their on-screen dynamic. He told police, “I tried to say that, and I, you know, to try and find her the moment I arrived in the green room just to say, I'm sorry, darling, I apologize and I didn't mean to hurt you, you know, because we play all the time, we pop we hit, we do stuff all the time because she's a female sensei. I'm a male sensei. We have a lot of scenes together and we have a lot of fun. I really apologize. I was just playing because we’re very playful together, and I bit down too hard.”
The responding officer remarked, “So it's emotions. We all have them and sometimes they get the better of us,” but also made clear that such biting is illegal and could be considered assault. Kove initially said he “didn't interpret the bite as a crime,” to which Hannah-Kim sharply responded, “It's not interpreted as a crime! He can take you away in handcuffs. You committed a crime, that's why we're here!”
Despite the severity of the incident, Hannah-Kim chose not to press charges but insisted on having the incident documented to prevent any recurrence. Kove was subsequently banished from the convention and warned never to repeat such behavior.
In the days following the incident, Kove issued a public apology through Jaffe & Company PR & Crisis Management. He stated, “I deeply regret and apologize for my actions regarding the incident with Alicia [Hannah-Kim], a genuinely kind and wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be put in this position. I’ve always respected her and considered her a highly professional and talented co-worker on Cobra Kai. I was being playful in the moment but went too far and there is absolutely no excuse for my behavior. I regret my actions for which I take full responsibility for what I did, and again I apologize to her and her husband. I’m committed to learning from this and it will never happen again.”
The incident has cast a shadow over the beloved series, which has enjoyed a strong run spanning six seasons. Kove reprised his iconic role as the ruthless sensei John Kreese, a character first introduced in the 1984 film The Karate Kid. Hannah-Kim joined the cast in seasons five and six as Kim Da-Eun, the granddaughter of Kim Sun-Yung, who originally taught Kreese in his youth. Their on-screen rivalry and partnership added depth to the series’ narrative, making this off-screen clash all the more jarring for fans.
Photos taken by police of Hannah-Kim’s arm showed a clear bite mark, visibly bruised and turning blue, underscoring the physical impact of the assault. The police report noted the incident as “absolutely illegal,” with potential consequences including arrest or citation, though no charges were pressed.
Witnesses, including Hannah-Kim’s husband, provided statements detailing Kove’s angry reaction when confronted. One noted that Kove “exploded” and insisted he “did not do anything wrong.” Bodycam footage captured Hannah-Kim’s refusal to accept Kove’s apologies, highlighting the emotional toll of the incident. She told Kove, “I came to you in friendship and I extended I had a friendship like, Hey mate, don't do that. And what you gave me was rage.”
As the dust settles, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the blurred lines that can sometimes exist between on-screen personas and real-life behavior. It also raises questions about professional conduct and respect within the entertainment industry, especially at fan conventions where actors and fans mingle in more casual settings.
Both actors continue their careers, with Kove slated to appear in the upcoming film Killing Mary Sue alongside notable stars such as Sean Patrick Flannery and Dermot Mulroney. Meanwhile, Hannah-Kim is currently filming the South Korean TV series The North Star.
While the incident has undoubtedly marred Kove’s reputation, his public apology and acceptance of responsibility could mark a turning point. Fans and colleagues alike will be watching closely to see how both actors move forward from this unsettling episode.
