Kanye West has been accused of punching a diner at Los Angeles’ Chateau Marmont in 2024 and continuing the attack while he was unconscious.
The lawsuit has been filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and it sees an unidentified plaintiff accusing the rapper, who now goes by Ye, of battery and infliction of emotional distress.
It alleges that the incident occurred at the legendary hotel on Sunset Boulevard – famous for hosting A-list celebrities – on April 16, 2024 at around 11pm. The plaintiff claims that Ye sucker-punched him in the face without any warning, knocking him to the ground, after which he allegedly “repeatedly punched him as he lay unconscious”.
NME has contacted Ye’s representatives for comment.
The suit claims that Ye accused the plaintiff of offensive and inappropriate conduct towards a woman, and later subjected him to “public scorn, suspicion and ridicule” during an appearance on The Download podcast.
On that show, Ye alleged that a man grabbed his wife Bianca Censori as she walked to the toilet at Chateau Marmont. “I talked to the guy like you just need to leave…and I’m like, ‘No it’s not okay, it wasn’t okay,’” Ye said. “Then he started…had to go to bed early – tucked this n***a in.”
The plaintiff is seeking punitive damages, economic losses, non-economic damages and compensation for medical expenses and emotional distress.
Last week, Kanye West’s Wireless Festival headline appearance sparked major controversy due to his past anti-Semitic controversies, including concern from Prime Minister Keir Starmer. A number of sponsors cut ties with the festival and the UK government refused his right to travel, eventually leading to the cancellation of the festival entirely.
That decision came after Ye shared a fresh apology for his past actions. He offered to meet Jewish groups in the UK, who agreed to the meeting but still said he should not play the festival.
West’s history of making anti-Semitic remarks dates back to 2022, when he made a series of offensive comments on social media. Those comments saw his accounts on both Instagram and Twitter suspended, and the musician was dropped by his lawyer, talent agency and record label, along with fashion brands such as Balenciaga and Adidas.
West also shared a number of highly controversial posts in early 2025, when he took back an apology he previously made to the Jewish community for antisemitic remarks, and then declared himself “a Nazi”. The rapper then claimed on X/Twitter that, “after further reflection”, he’d “come to the realisation that I’m not a Nazi”, followed only a few days later by yet more swastika apparel appearing on his X page.