Kanye West Faces Lawsuit from ANTM Alum Jenn An Over Allegations of Sexual Assault
Kanye West has been accused of sexual assault by America’s Next Top Model alum Jenn An.
According to legal documents obtained by Us Weekly, An, 39, filed a lawsuit against West, 47, on Saturday, November 23. In the docs, An claimed she was sexually assaulted and strangled by West while on the set of the music video for La Roux’s 2009 song “In for the Kill.”
An began her modeling career in 2009 after competing on season 13 of America’s Next Top Model. Following her success on the reality series, An was hired to appear in the music video which took place in September 2010. The docs claimed it was arranged to have West appear in the video to increase its exposure. (The final version of the music video does not include an appearance from West or An.)
West allegedly arrived on set at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City with his entourage which included then-girlfriend Selita Ebanks. An claimed that West took over production from the video’s directors. She alleged that West made the other models “line up in the hallway” where he “evaluated their appearances.”
According to An, West selected two other women and told them to follow him. He allegedly also pointed to her and stated, “Give me the Asian girl.”
An claimed that she was taken into a suite that had a “long couch” with a camera placed in front. West allegedly directed An to sit next to him on the couch in front of other crew members. The model was wearing lingerie and pointed out to West she was “not wearing very much.” West allegedly replied, “That’s why I chose you.”
West allegedly ordered the team to start the playback music. An claimed that West did not know the words to the song so he rambled, “rawr, rawr, rawr,” instead.
The other models were allegedly dismissed as West and An continued to film. An claimed that West instructed the crew to reposition the cameras so West could see the footage as they filmed.
As the cameras shifted, West allegedly stood over An and “began to choke” her with “one hand.” He then wrapped both hands around her neck and smothered her face, per the docs. West allegedly “rammed several fingers down” An’s throat and “gagged her” so he could “emulate forced oral sex.” An believed the motion lasted more than a “minute.”
“This is art. This is f—ing art,” West allegedly said, per An. “I am like Picasso.”
The lawsuit argued that West violated New York’s Gender Motivated Violence Act. An is seeking a jury trial for punitive damages, legal fees and “damages for mental, emotional and physical injury, distress, pain and suffering and injury to reputation.”
