Model Claims Kanye West Strangled, Gagged, Sexually Assaulted Her On Music Video Set

A model has accused rapper Kanye West of sexually assaulting her during a 2010 music video shoot, according to a new lawsuit filed on Friday. Jenifer “Jenn” An, a former contestant on America's Next Top Model, claims in the legal complaint that West inappropriately touched and forcefully gagged her while on set for La Roux's In for the Kill music video. 

The alleged incident took place around September 7, 2010, at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City, where the shoot occurred. The lawsuit, obtained by Page Six, details how West, who had a feature on a remix of the song by the British pop duo, allegedly took control of the shoot despite director Kinga Burza's presence.

Ms An alleges that West arrived at the shoot with his then-girlfriend, model Selita Ebanks, and began directing the production. According to the complaint, West told the production team, “Give me the Asian girl,” referring to Ms An, which made her feel “uncomfortable,” but she reluctantly agreed.

At the time, Ms An was reportedly wearing only lingerie. She alleges that when she informed West that she wasn't dressed very much, he responded, “That's why I chose you.” The model and West then allegedly moved to a long couch in the suite, which had a camera facing it.

Ms An claims that while on camera, West began to choke her with one hand and then wrapped his other hand around her neck, allegedly strangling her with both hands. She further claims that he “smothered” her face with his hands, smearing her makeup. The lawsuit goes on to allege that West then “rammed several fingers down her throat, continuously moved them in and out, and gagged her … to emulate forced oral sex.”

During the alleged assault, West reportedly shouted, “This is art. This is f**king art. I am like Picasso.” 

Ms An recalls that the actions of West were similar to “BDSM fetishes.” As the alleged assault continued, Ms An claims she tried to move her tongue away from West's “gyrating hand,” causing her to panic and desperately search for someone on set who could intervene. Ms An alleges that she struggled to breathe and felt as if she had “temporarily blacked out.”

Upon leaving the set, Ms An alleges that she made eye contact with his girlfriend, but the former Victoria's Secret model “abruptly turned her head away.” 

Ms An is also taking legal action against Universal Music Group, the music publishing company that backed West at the time, alleging they “failed to investigate” the incident or take any corrective action. She claims that West was “too profitable” for the company to intervene, despite his “unlawful conduct.”

Jenifer An is seeking an unspecified amount of damages and alleges that West violated New York federal laws related to strangulation in the second degree, sexually motivated felony, and assault. In the lawsuit, she said that she has suffered lasting trauma, including feeling “extremely humiliated, degraded, victimised, embarrassed, and emotionally distressed” as a result of the alleged incident. She further claims she has endured and will continue to endure “monetary damages, physical injury, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life,” and severe “physical distress.”