Kanye West: Kanye West sued for sexually assaulting and strangling model in 2010: ‘This is damn art’

Kanye West accused of sexual assault by ‘America’s Next Top Model’ alumnus on music video set

Kanye West has been sued for allegedly sexually assaulting and gagging a model during a 2010 music video shoot by model Jenifer An, who competed on “America’s Next Top Model.” The shoot reportedly took place around September 7, 2010 at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City. The model alleged in the lawsuit that Kanye West made models, including herself, stand in a hallway and said in reference to her, “Give me the Asian girl,” making her feel uncomfortable, Page Six reported.
The model said she was only wearing lingerie at the time and told West she wasn’t wearing much, prompting West to say, “That’s why I chose you.” Then they went to a bench where a camera was pointed towards it.
On camera, Kanye West began choking her with one hand and then “wrapped his other hand around her neck and continued to choke her with both hands.” West smothered her face as both of his hands smeared her makeup. “He then rammed several fingers down her throat, continuously moving them in and out and gagged her… to simulate forcible oral sex,” the complaint further alleged.
“This is art. This is fucking art. I’m like Picasso,” Kanye West said as he forced himself onto the model. When she allegedly tried to move her tongue away from West’s “circling hand,” according to the suit, “she began to panic and looked around the set, hoping to see someone who could intervene.”
Kanye West has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
The model is seeking an unspecified amount of damages through the lawsuit and, according to the complaint, believes West violated New York federal laws for second-degree strangulation, sexually motivated crimes and assault. She said she dealt with trauma, feeling extremely humiliated, degraded, victimized, embarrassed and emotionally distressed.