A paparazzi photographer, has filed a lawsuit against Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, for assault, battery, and negligence, Variety reports.
Nichol Lechmanik alleges that Ye grabbed her phone and threw it into the street while she was capturing content of him, causing her fear and emotional distress.
The incident occurred on January 27, 2023, outside a sports academy in Ventura County where Ye was attending his daughter’s basketball game. Lechmanik had captured photos of Ye’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, entering the academy before noticing Ye confronting another photographer on the street. She began filming the altercation from her car when Ye allegedly approached her vehicle in an aggressive manner.
In the lawsuit, Lechmanik states that she was fearful for her safety due to the Yeezy founder’s reputation for violence against photographers and his threatening body language. Ye allegedly reached into her car, forcefully took her phone, and threw it onto the street before walking away.
Lechmanik, represented by attorney Gloria Allred, seeks damages for the emotional pain and lost earnings she has experienced as a result of the incident. Allred emphasizes that professional photographers have the right to perform their job without interference from celebrities and highlights the importance of privacy in one’s home versus public spaces.
The lawsuit aims to set a precedent for paparazzi photographers who face similar mistreatment while carrying out their professional duties.
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