Jennifer An, a former contestant on America’s Next Top Model, has told the BBC that in 2010 she was part of La Roux’s “In for the Kill” video shoot when Kanye West (now known as Ye) appeared unexpectedly on the set. According to An, West choked her, slapped her face with makeup, and forced his hands inside her mouth to simulate oral sex, describing the moment as “scary.” She says the encounter left her feeling suffocated, unsure and frightened.
Known for his controversial public statements, West has previously apologized for antisemitic remarks and cited diagnoses of autism and bipolar disorder as an explanation for his behaviour. In the interview, An explained that she was unaware of West’s presence until crew members loudly announced, “Kanye’s coming.” The three women were then selected for a scripted scene that, according to An, was never intended to be violent or sexual.
In 2024, An filed a civil lawsuit against West under New York State’s Gender‑Motivated Violence Protection Act, which extends the statute of limitations for sexual‑assault survivors. West’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss, arguing the encounter fell within the protection of the First Amendment as artistic expression. They claim An never objected, did not seek to leave, and was a consenting participant. An’s attorney, Jesse Weinstein, stresses that treating the intervention as a “stage performance” could set a dangerous precedent that enables artists to justify harmful conduct as art.
The case has yet to proceed to trial. The BBC has asked both West’s representatives and La Roux’s bandmate Elly Jackson for comments; neither side has yet responded. In an Instagram exchange, Jackson reportedly apologized to An, describing the incident as “horrific” and acknowledging West’s intent to reference the film American Psycho.
Support resources for those who may feel affected by the story are available through the BBC Action Line, as advised in the original broadcast.
