Kanye West seeks dismissal of Jenn An sexual assault suit, accuses her of silencing him

In a federal court filing on Monday, Kanye West moved to dismiss a federal sexual assault lawsuit filed by Jenn An, an alumna of America’s Next Top Model. West’s lawyers argued that An’s claims are an attempt to punish his creative process and censor his art, urging the court to throw out the case and keep the focus on artistic expression rather than personal disputes.

The lawsuit, filed roughly 10 months earlier, accuses West and Universal Music Group of violating New York’s Gender Motivated Violence Act by allegedly jamming his fingers down An’s throat and choking her until she temporarily blacked out during a 2010 shoot for La Roux’s music video In for the Kill at the Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan. An, who was working as a background actor for the video, has said the assault occurred during production while she was on set for what she described as a project that involved “classy yet sleazy” elements. West did not appear in the U.S.-themed second video but was featured on a remix of the single by La Roux frontwoman Elly Jackson and producer Ben Langmaid. A woman resembling An appeared in one doorway shot of the video, An has claimed, and she said she was dressed in revealing lingerie for the shoot, a detail she says contributed to West’s selection from a lineup of models. The lawsuit also notes An’s later claims about the incident.

In response, West’s attorney argued that, like many stage performances and motion pictures, the In for the Kill video included physical touching between actors, and that An did not object to her role, express a lack of consent, or attempt to leave the shoot at any point. The filing contends that allowing such claims to proceed would risk retroactive criminalization and personal liability for participants in provocative film, theater, or music video productions whenever a performer later regrets or reimagines their participation. The defense framing suggests that the suit would set a dangerous precedent for people involved in creative works across media.

Jenn An seeks a jury trial on damages, including punitive damages and legal fees, as well as compensation for mental, emotional, and physical injury, distress, pain and suffering, and damage to reputation. The case has not yet resolved, and West’s motion to dismiss is a central element of the ongoing litigation. The court record shows An’s claim is being fought within the federal system, with both sides presenting their contentions about the nature of the alleged incident and its alleged connection to the broader rights and protections offered by New York law.

Jenn An first rose to public attention in 2009, finishing in fourth place on the 13th season of America’s Next Top Model, a run that helped launch her subsequent acting work. She has since appeared in television series such as The Mindy Project, Criminal Minds, and Grey’s Anatomy, among other projects. The legal dispute draws renewed attention to the intersections between art, performance, and personal accountability in the entertainment industry.

For Kanye West, the litigation and counterarguments arrive as he prepares to release his 11th studio album, Bully, this Friday. West, who has maintained a substantial footprint in music streaming, is also scheduled to perform in São Paulo, Brazil, on November 29 as part of a broader tour and promotional circuit. The public narrative around the case continues to unfold as both sides pursue their respective legal strategies, with court filings outlining requests, defenses, and interpretations of the events cited in the original complaint.

In this case, the parties are balancing questions about consent, artistic expression, and personal accountability against the backdrop of a high-profile celebrity dispute. As the proceedings move forward, observers will be watching not only for the outcome of the motion to dismiss but also for how the court interprets the implications of the allegations within the broader context of entertainment industry practices and the rights of performers involved in provocative or boundary-pushing productions.