By Becky Usman
A photographer has initiated legal action against Kanye West, accusing the troubled rapper of assaulting her by allegedly throwing her cell phone to the ground during a confrontation.
Nichol Lechmanik, the plaintiff, claimed that the artist, now officially known as Ye, caused her significant mental and emotional distress during the incident, which took place in January.
During a press conference held in Los Angeles, journalists were informed that the paparazzo had been outside a sports center in Ventura County, located north of the city, where Ye and Kim Kardashian’s son were participating in an activity.
According to the lawsuit, Lechmanik had taken photographs of Kardashian and subsequently noticed Ye engaged in an argument with someone outside. She began filming him from her car.
Reporters in attendance were shown a video clip capturing the incident. In the footage, Ye approaches the photographer’s vehicle and addresses her.
“If I wanna go see my son at a game, You all ain’t gonna run up on me like that. If I say stop, stop with your cameras,” the rapper is heard saying.
“I know, but Kanye, you are a celebrity,” Lechmanik responds, while continuing to film.
The video shows Ye reaching into the car, grabbing the phone, and throwing it to the ground before walking away.
“He instilled so much fear in me that I haven’t been the same since,” Lechmanik revealed during the press conference on Thursday.