Kanye West's Battery Investigation Might Wrap-Up Soon Due To Silence From People Involved
By Favour Adegoke on April 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT
L.A. Cops are wrapping up the assault case brought against Kanye West by one of the Houston brothers. The rapper was alleged to have punched one of the brothers after his wife, Bianca Censori, claimed that she was sexually assaulted.
It seems West and the restauranteurs communicated after the incident because no one has told the authorities about the battery allegations. Cops are now preparing to move the case forward to the L.A. City Attorney's Office, where they'll decide on it.
Kanye West's Battery Case Winding Down
According to TMZ, West's alleged punching incident is being wrapped up as nothing has been heard from both parties since it was brought before L.A. city cops.
West reportedly punched one of the Houston brothers at the Chateau Marmont last week after Censori claimed the alleged victim, either Mark or Jonnie, "grabbed" her.
Law enforcement sources told the news outlet that they believed the brothers and West had been talking because they've not heard from either of them since a report was filed.
They're now preparing to move the case to the city's Attorney's office for further consideration.
Kanye West Mocked The Battery Incident On Justin Laboy's Podcast
West weighed in on the physical altercation during an appearance on Justin Laboy's "The Download" podcast last week.
The rapper made light of the incident on the show, joking that the brother "had to go to bed early."
"He had to go to bed early. [I] tucked this n---- in," he told Laboy on the show last week before bursting into laughter and reiterating that, "He had to go to bed early."
West noted that while he didn't witness the event firsthand as he was in the bathroom, one of the brothers allegedly "grabbed" his wife.
"I didn't see it directly, and [Censori] started just explaining to me what happened, so then I walked over and found him," West narrated, per Page Six.
The rapper explained that the security had tried to escort the man out; however, the businessman did not want to make a scene, saying, "It's OK."
West said he objected and told him, "No, it's not OK," before proceeding to punch him.
Contradictory Accounts Surface Of The Incident
According to TMZ, sources who have seen the surveillance footage of the incident claim the footage doesn't back Censori's allegation and that it was an innocent run-in.
An eye witness said either Mark or Jonnie "accidentally" bumped into West's wife before the rapper proceeded to hit the man.
"He actually ended up punching the wrong dude," a tipster told the news outlet.
West was subsequently subjected to online criticism after the incident went viral, as fans questioned why he hit the victim even when he didn't witness it personally.
Kanye West's Rep Slammed Critics For Not Believing Bianca Censori's Claims
The "Love Lockdown" rapper's rep, Milo Yiannopoulos, slammed naysayers, noting that he finds it "absolutely disgusting that any journalist would choose not to believe a woman when she tells them about a sexual assault committed against her."
He continued, "But of course, you don't have to take Bianca's word for it. The hotel assembled its own detailed incident report. Drawing on eyewitness testimony from staffers and video surveillance footage, the report says Bianca was 'handled' by an assailant who 'eventually let go.'"
Yiannopoulos went ahead to explain that the assailant "seized" Censori under her "dress directly on her skin around the waist, forcibly spun her around, and blew kisses in her face."
"This was a physical, sexual assault, and any attempt to undermine the seriousness of what happened is repellent and vile," he concluded.
Kanye West Accused Of Racial Discrimination
West's legal troubles have compounded as he has been accused of racial discrimination by one of his former security guards, who claimed the rapper subjected his Black employees to "less favorable treatment than their White counterparts."
According to NME, the former employee, who goes by the name Benjamin Deshon Provo, alleged that West "frequently screamed at and berated Black employees" and ultimately fired him for refusing to cut his dreadlocks.
In the filing, Provo also alleged that the rapper was "always abrupt, abrasive, and demeaning of (him) and his Black counterparts."
He's seeking damages for the alleged discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, labor code violations, and attorney fees.