Kanye West is in the news yet again. However, it is not for another rant but for an alleged assault. The Chicago rapper and entrepreneur has been sued for allegedly punching an autograph dealer in Los Angeles two years ago.
According to court documents obtained by new outlet The Blast, the plaintiffs, Justin Poplawski and his wife, Tiffany Marshall, have employed esteemed lawyer Gloria Allred to file a lawsuit claiming that Ye’s actions amount to assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and loss of consortium.
As reported at the time, West hit Poplawski twice — once in the head and once in the neck, which sent him to the ground. The alleged assault occurred on January 13th, 2022, near the Soho Warehouse in Downtown Los Angeles.
Poplawski describes himself as a “well-respected autograph dealer” and claims that he had asked West for autographs on multiple occasions and been successful until the assault. Upon being struck, West allegedly screamed, “I’m going to make a fucking example of you,” and referenced his “fucking divorce” from Kim Kardashian.
Popawlski insists that Kanye hit him several times, “severely injuring him” while he was “lawfully standing on public property.” However, West has previously addressed the situation.
In a 2022 interview with the hip-hop and celebrity gossip outlet Hollywood Unlocked, Kanye claimed Poplawski gave him “attitude” and continued to hound him even after he had told him it wasn’t a good time.
Detailing the assault, West recalled, “It was 3 a.m. in front of [Soho] Warehouse. I’m saying, ‘You don’t know what I’m dealing with right now.’ I just finished these two songs, I came from the studio … And this dude, he just had this real attitude, like, ‘Whatchu gonna do?'”