Kanye West is being accused of inappropriately touching and forcefully gagging a model during a 2010 music video shoot, according to a bombshell new lawsuit filed Friday.
Model Jenifer “Jenn” An, who was a contestant “America’s Next Top Model,” alleges in the complaint obtained by Page Six that the rapper sexually assaulted her while on set for La Roux’s “In for the Kill.”
The shoot reportedly took place around Sept. 7, 2010, at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City.
West, who had a feature on a remix version of the British pop duo’s song, arrived on set with then-girlfriend Selita Ebanks and allegedly “took control of the production and the production team” despite director Kinga Burza being there, per the complaint.
An alleges that the “Power” rapper had models, including her, line up in a hallway and said in regards to her, “Give me the Asian girl,” which made her feel “uncomfortable” but she “reluctantly acquiesced.”
The model, who was wearing only lingerie at the time, then told the “Runaway” rapper that she “wasn’t wearing very much” and he allegedly responded, “That’s why I chose you.”
They then went to a long couch toward the back of the suite that had a camera facing it, per the suit.
An alleges in her complaint that while on camera, West “began to choke” her with one hand and then “wrapped his other hand around her neck and continued to strangle her with both hands.”
She also claims the Yeezy founder “smothered” her face with “both of his hands,” smearing her makeup.
“He then rammed several fingers down her throat, continuously moved them in and out, and gagged her … to emulate forced oral sex,” the complaint further alleges.
An claims West shouted during the alleged offense, “This is art. This is f–king art. I am like Picasso.”
The model recalls the “Stronger” rapper alleged actions to be similar to those of “BDSM fetishes.”
When she allegedly tried to move her tongue away from West’s “gyrating hand,” per the suit, she “started to panic, and looked around the set, hoping to see anyone who could intervene.”
An claims she then “struggled to breathe” and felt as though she had “temporarily blacked out.”
A rep for West could not immediately be reached for comment.
An alleges that, upon leaving the set, she made eye contact with Ebanks, 41, but the former Victoria’s Secret Model “abruptly turned her head away.”
Page Six has reached out to a rep for Ebanks for comment but did not immediately hear back.
An is also taking legal action against Universal Music Group, the music publishing company who backed West at the time, claiming they “failed to investigate” the incident or “otherwise take remedial action.”
She alleges the “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” rapper was “too profitable” for the company to intervene “despite his unlawful conduct.”
Page Six has reached out to Universal Music Group for comment but did not immediately hear back.
An is seeking an unspecified amount of damages, and per the complaint, believes West violated New York federal laws for strangulation in the second degree, sexually motivated felony and assault.
She claims she has coped with trauma, including feeling “extremely humiliated, degraded, victimized, embarrassed, and emotionally distressed” over the years as a result of what allegedly happened.
An concludes she has also “suffered and will continue to suffer monetary damages, physical injury, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life” and severe “physical distress.”
Want more celebrity and pop culture news?
Start your day with Page Six Daily.
Thanks for signing up!
Her filing comes as West, 47, is also being sued for allegedly sexually assaulting and drugging his ex assistant Lauren Piscotta.
The OnlyFans model alleged in an amended complaint filed in October that her ex boss “hooked up” with her without her consent at a studio session he co-hosted with Sean “Diddy” Combs.
West’s lawyers previously slammed Pisciotta’s allegations as “baseless,” alleging to Page Six in June that the model pursued their client “sexually to coerce employment and other material benefits.”
English (US) ·