Kanye West sued over 2010 choking incident involving model Jennifer An
Model Jennifer An, a former contestant on America’s Next Top Model, alleges that rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) forcibly choked her, inserted his fingers into her mouth to simulate oral sex, and smeared her makeup during the filming of La Roux’s music video “In For The Kill” at New York’s Chelsea Hotel in 2010. An filed a civil suit in 2024 under New York City’s Gender‑Motivated Violence Protection Act, describing the experience as leaving her “suffocated, unsure and scared.”
The lawsuit claims West’s lawyers have not disputed the occurrence but argue it was an “intense and provocative theatrical performance” protected by the First Amendment, likening it to a scene from the film American Psycho. West’s representatives have moved to dismiss the case, asserting the alleged conduct was artistic expression, not sexual assault.
La Roux (Elly Jackson) has confirmed the incident via Instagram messages submitted as evidence, calling it “horrific.” An recalled West yelling, “This is art, I’m Picasso,” during the episode. Court filings note the lack of police report, medical treatment, or contemporaneous records, but cite affidavits and eyewitness statements supporting An’s claims. The case remains pending.