Former America’s Next Top Model finalist Jenn An has reportedly accused Kanye ‘Ye’ West of ‘pornographic gagging’ in a new lawsuit.
The model filed the complaint in federal court in New York on Friday, detailing the incident which took place at Manhattan’s Chelsea Hotel in 2010 while filming pop duo La Roux’s In For The Kill music video.
Universal Music Group, who allegedly organised the 47-year-old rapper’s cameo in the music video is named as a co-defendant for ‘failing to investigate’ the alleged incident.
The lawsuit, obtained by Rolling Stone, reveals that An was dressed in lingerie when West arrived and pointed to her, saying: ‘Give me the Asian girl.’
He then had her sit in a chair across from him as he ‘towered over’ her and started ‘breathing heavily’, taking over the direction with little resistance and telling the camera to zoom in on her face.
‘On camera, defendant West began to choke plaintiff with one hand. He then wrapped his other hand around her neck and continued to strangle her with both hands,’ the lawsuit claims.
An rose to fame on America’s Next Top Model in 2009 (Picture: BET Media Group)
‘He then rammed several fingers down her throat, continuously moved them in and out, and gagged her to emulate oral sex.’
He allegedly then screamed: ‘This is art. This is fucking art. I am like Picasso.’
An characterised the incident as ‘pornographic gagging/deep throat/BDSM fetishes’.
An further alleges she looked around the room for help as she panicked and no-one intervened.
‘Plaintiff struggled to breathe and felt as if she had temporarily blacked out. When defendant West decided that he was finished with plaintiff, her face was covered in saliva and smeared makeup,’ the lawsuit continued.
According to An, La Roux later described the situation as ‘upsetting, unsettling’ to a friend.
She has also accused the record label and other ‘high-profile figures’ of trying to ‘bury’ what happened, per TMZ.
Neither West nor An appear in the online music video which is available to watch on YouTube.
In a statement released by An alongside the lawsuit, she said she wanted to ‘hold the abusers accountable through the legal system’.
She said: ‘Women in the music and entertainment industries have been subject to sexual abuse for years with no recourse to speak out or implement change.
‘This space is a dangerous place for women. We are essentially objects in the entertainment world. The industries have thrived on placing us in abusive power dynamics.
‘Outside of creating legal precedent, survivors of sexual assault have nothing.’
An appeared on cycle 13 of America’s Next Top Model in 2009 and tied for third place.
Her lawyers, Christine Hintze, Melissa Berouty, and Jesse Weinstein, added: ‘Everyone’s voice is important, and West cannot escape liability because of his success and notoriety.’
West and Universal Music Group are yet to respond to the lawsuit.
La Roux star Elly Jackson has previously spoken out against West after working with him on his 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
In a 2020 interview she recalled telling a friend about the experience: ‘I was like: “Yeah, that was pretty weird”… I said I found it all a bit strange. And then he told [West], and they made me write an apology email to him. It was quite creepy.’
She added that she felt compelled to speak out as she ‘saw some behaviour – that wasn’t directed towards me – that I can’t approve as a fellow human being’ but did not provide further details, per NME.
This is not the only legal trouble West has faced in recent months.
Earlier this month he was reportedly sued by a former employee for antisemitism and lewd conduct with wife Bianca Censori.
The fresh allegations come from former project manager Murphy Aficionado over an intense exchange that took place in Beverly Hills hotel in November 2022.
Per TMZ, he is suing over discrimination, a hostile work environment, retaliation, not paying wages, and wrongful termination.
Elsewhere, West reportedly failed to appear at a lawsuit deposition in Los Angeles over racial discrimination against a former staffer.
The ex-security guard claimed West gave ‘less favourable treatment’ to Black employees compared to their White counterparts.
He also alleged West ‘frequently screamed at and berated Black employees’.
