Ye has been named as a suspect in a battery case in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports.
TMZ first reported Wednesday night (April 17) that the rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, is being accused of punching another man in the face after he allegedly “grabbed” Ye’s wife, Bianca Censori. According to TMZ, West allegedly responded by striking the man.
Yeezy’s chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos claimed in a statement to FOX 11 that Censori was “physically assaulted” and “sexually assaulted” by the man accusing West.
“‘Grabbed’ is grossly inadequate as a description of what happened. Bianca was physically assaulted,” Yiannopoulos said. “The assailant didn’t merely collide into her. He put his hands under her dress, directly on her body, he grabbed her waist, he spun her around and then he blew her kisses. She was battered and sexually assaulted.”
Yeezy and his wife reportedly left the scene of the alleged altercation before the police arrived. The victim did not need treatment for his injuries suffered, according to TMZ.
LAPD officer Drake Madison confirmed to Billboard that officers arrived at a hotel on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood on April 17 around 12:30 a.m. PT for a battery investigation and that a battery report was then completed. However, Madison did not confirm whether Ye is a suspect. As of press time, no charges have been levied against Ye.
Billboard has reached out to West’s reps for further comment.
FOX 11‘s Matthew Seedorff shared on X that he saw detectives investigating outside a Los Angeles hotel possibly tied to the alleged altercation.
Last year, the rapper was sued by a paparazzo over a phone-throwing incident. Photographer Nichol Lechmanik filed a lawsuit against West for assault, battery, negligence and interference with the exercise of her civil rights following the alleged altercation. She claims in her complaint that on Jan. 27, 2023, the musician threw her phone into traffic outside Sports Academy in Newbury Park, Calif.
On the music side, West is coming off the release of his Billboard 200-topping Vultures album alongside Ty Dolla $ign in February. The Vultures 2 sequel is rumored to be released in May.
