Jennifer An, a former finalist on America’s Next Top Model, the Tyra Banks-hosted reality competition that has launched multiple modeling careers since 2003, filed a federal lawsuit against Kanye West, now known as Ye, claiming he sexually assaulted and strangled her while cameras rolled during the 2010 filming of La Roux’s “In for the Kill” remix video at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City, according to BBC News coverage of An’s lawsuit. La Roux, the British synth-pop singer whose real name is Elly Jackson, was the artist whose track was being remixed that day. West arrived unannounced for what was supposed to be a simple cameo appearance and quickly took over the shoot. Court records state he pointed directly at An, who was dressed in lingerie as a background actress, and demanded the crew bring him the Asian girl before directing the camera to zoom tightly on her face.
The alleged assault unfolded rapidly as West choked An first with one hand and then with both while she struggled to breathe. He smeared her makeup across her face and then rammed several fingers down her throat, moving them in and out in a manner that simulated forced oral sex. An has described feeling suffocated, unsure, and scared during the ordeal that she believes lasted well over a minute. West reportedly shouted that the actions represented art and compared himself to Picasso while the entire sequence was captured on film.
La Roux, whose song was being remixed that day, has offered strong corroboration in direct messages filed with the court in March of this year, according to Rolling Stone’s coverage of the court filing. The British singer told An she could never forget the incident and described it as horrific, adding that she had immediately asked for the footage never to be used or viewed by anyone. Makeup artist Liz Martins and another observer on set also provided sworn statements backing An’s account of the chaotic takeover and the visible distress that followed. The final edited video released to the public contains no trace of West or An.
West’s legal team responded by filing a motion to dismiss the suit in January 2025. Lawyers argue the encounter amounted to consensual artistic direction meant to recreate a provocative scene from the film American Psycho and therefore deserves protection under the First Amendment as part of expressive video production. The complaint also names Universal Music Group, one of the world’s largest record labels, as a codefendant, asserting the company failed to investigate the matter despite clear awareness at the time. The case continues to move forward in federal court in New York with new evidence still being considered.
This legal action arrives amid a documented pattern of similar accusations against West in recent years, echoing other recent cases of women alleging sexual assault by high-profile musicians, including a Texas woman who alleged sexual assault by rapper B.o.B in a San Diego hotel. His former assistant Lauren Pisciotta filed suit in June 2024 and later amended her claims to include allegations of sexual harassment, stalking, assault, rape, and sex trafficking during her time working on his Yeezy projects. Other former staff members have described unwanted advances, demands to participate in explicit creative work, and a workplace environment marked by power imbalances and verbal tirades. These accounts paint a consistent picture of alleged misconduct in professional creative settings where West held significant control.
An decided to file the case now because New York City’s Gender Motivated Violence Protection Act created a specific window allowing survivors of gender-based violence to pursue civil claims for older incidents. The law extended the usual statute of limitations and gave people like An until February 2025 to seek justice for events that happened long before many current accountability movements began. She reached out to La Roux in 2024 to confirm details and received immediate support, which strengthened her resolve to move forward after years of carrying the trauma alone.
The lawsuit highlights deeper questions about consent, power, and artistic boundaries on professional sets where celebrities often operate with little oversight, a pattern that has surfaced in other creative-industry cases like a Vetements executive accused of harassing Ice Spice at a fashion event. An has spoken publicly about how the experience left lasting damage to her modeling career and sense of safety in the industry. For many observers, the case serves as a reminder that time does not erase harm and that legal tools like the Gender Motivated Violence Protection Act exist precisely to give survivors a path when traditional avenues close. West denies the claims and maintains his actions were protected creative expression.
As the motion to dismiss remains under review and additional court filings continue, the story underscores ongoing challenges in the entertainment world. Survivors continue to find strength in new laws and in the willingness of witnesses like La Roux to speak up years later. An’s decision to come forward now reflects both personal courage and a broader push for accountability that reaches across decades of silence.
