Model Jennifer An Accuses Kanye West of Assault on Music Video Set: 'It Just Felt Wrong'

Jennifer An, known for her appearance as a finalist on the 2009 season of America's Next Top Model, has come forward with disturbing allegations against Kanye West. In a recent interview with the BBC, An detailed an alleged assault that occurred during the 2010 filming of La Roux's "In for the Kill" music video.

According to An, West's behavior on set quickly escalated. She described feeling targeted, stating, "I feel like he was like trying to touch as much as he could." The alleged incident, which was not included in the final video cut, involved West allegedly choking her with both hands, smearing her makeup, and sticking his fingers inside her mouth. An recalled the experience as unsettling, emphasizing that it "just felt wrong." She claims that after the alleged acts, West proclaimed, "this is art, I'm Picasso," before stating, "OK, I got what I want," and departing the set.

An further stated that during the alleged assault, production staff were present but did not intervene. She explained her reluctance to stop West at the time, fearing it could cost her job.

In 2024, An filed a civil lawsuit against Kanye West under New York City's Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act. This act provides a temporary extension to the statute of limitations for civil suits related to sexual violence. La Roux, upon being contacted by An in 2024, reportedly recalled West's alleged behavior, describing it as "horrific" in an Instagram message.

West's legal team has attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing that his actions were artistic expressions protected by the First Amendment. His attorneys characterized An as "a consenting participant in the stage performance," which they likened to a scene from the film American Psycho. They suggested that West's actions "incidentally may have caused the Plaintiff [An] to have difficulty breathing."

Jennifer An's lawyer, Jesse Weinstein, strongly countered West's defense, telling the BBC that portraying such alleged behavior as artistic expression sets "a really dangerous precedent." Weinstein previously stated that An's case is robust, citing "substantial corroborating evidence supporting the allegations, including contemporaneous communications and witness testimony." He added, "We believe the record makes clear that the claims have a substantial basis in law and fact and should proceed so that the evidence can be fully examined in court."

Representatives for La Roux's label, Universal, and Kanye West have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations.