Kanye West Faces Lawsuit For Throwing Photographer’s Phone, Allegations Of Assault And Battery
A legal battle has emerged as Kanye West finds himself being sued by a photographer over an incident that took place earlier this year. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Nichol Lechmanik, a 45-year-old photographer, has filed a lawsuit against the famous rapper, alleging assault, battery, and negligence.
Nichol claims that the encounter left her traumatized and humiliated, impacting her ability to continue working as a celebrity photographer. The incident occurred in January, following Kanye’s attendance at his daughter North West’s basketball game alongside his reported “wife,” Bianca Censori.
In the lawsuit, Nichol states that Kanye, visibly angry, engaged in a heated argument with another photographer before allegedly rummaging through Nichol’s pockets. This action caused the photographer to fear for her safety, as she suspected Kanye might be carrying a weapon.
Represented by renowned attorney Gloria Allred, Nichol further claims that she felt threatened by Kanye’s behavior and anticipated a confrontation after witnessing his exchange with the other photographer.
Eventually, Kanye approached Nichol, and a video of their encounter captures the rapper berating her while she films him from the driver’s seat. “You didn’t have to run up on me like that,” Kanye can be heard saying. He continued, “If I say stop… stop with your cameras!”
Their interaction took a shocking turn when Kanye forcefully grabbed Nichol’s cell phone and threw it into the street, with the phone ending up in oncoming traffic. Fortunately, Nichol’s business partner, seated in the passenger’s seat, managed to capture the entire incident on camera.
Nichol promptly reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Department later that day, seeking justice for the assault she endured. In addition to compensation for her losses, she is also requesting an injunction to prevent Kanye from “touching, annoying, or threatening not just herself but any photographer,” as reported by TMZ.
Initially, Kanye was considered a suspect in a battery investigation surrounding the incident. However, he ultimately avoided charges. The Ventura Co. District Attorney’s Office disclosed that the cellphone suffered only minor damage to its protective case, valued at $30. They also confirmed that the photographer decided against pressing charges.
Meanwhile, ex Kim Kardashian has complained about how her kids are affected by Kanye’s erratic actions. In Thursday’s episode of The Kardashians, the reality star expressed feelings of sadness over “watching someone” she “really loved” and has a family with become “so different.
It is worth noting that the incident occurred during the same month in which Kanye and Bianca Censori reportedly formalized their union. According to TMZ, the couple obtained a marriage certificate in January and participated in a non-legally binding ceremony.
