Jenn An, a model and actor known for appearing on America’s Next Top Model, has spoken publicly in a BBC interview about an alleged sexual assault involving Kanye West, also known as Ye. In the interview, she described what she says happened during a 2010 music video shoot that she thought was a professional modeling job. According to her account, the project was connected to a collaboration between Ye and La Roux, and the atmosphere initially seemed collaborative while she and other models were being photographed.
An said that after Ye arrived on set, he chose three models and then ordered the other two women out of the room. She alleged that Ye then assaulted her, describing being choked with both hands, having makeup smeared across her face, and having his fingers forced down her throat. She said the experience left her feeling suffocated and frightened. The interview was emotional, with An saying the incident has remained difficult to talk about even years later.
The article also notes that An says she has text messages from the time of the alleged incident, which she described as immediate reactions to what happened. Those messages, according to the report, reflect her fear and distress after the encounter. She also recalled Ye asking whether she felt he had set women back years, a statement included as part of her allegations.
The matter comes at a time when Ye has faced intense public scrutiny for a range of inflammatory statements, including antisemitic and pro-Hitler remarks that he has previously linked to a 2002 brain injury. In this case, however, the report says his team is not primarily denying that the encounter took place. Instead, a representative reportedly argued that whatever occurred was meant as “artistic expression” for a music video. The defense, as described in the article, is that the incident should not be treated as gender-motivated violence or sexual assault because it happened in an artistic context.
The report presents that argument as controversial and troubling, especially given the nature of An’s allegations. It also highlights the broader issue of safety and consent in entertainment and fashion environments, where performers and models can be placed in vulnerable situations. The article underscores the importance of informed consent, safety protocols, and supervision on sets, particularly when scenes involve physical contact or potentially intimate interactions.
An’s interview adds a highly personal account to the legal and public controversy surrounding Ye. Her allegations, together with the reported defense from Ye’s side, set up a dispute that could raise difficult questions about power, consent, and the limits of artistic justification in professional settings.
