Alicia Hannah-Kim has responded to Martin Kove, her Cobra Kai co-star, apologizing for biting her arm at a fan convention. She posted a video on Instagram on Sunday about the attack. The actress thanked everyone for their support over what she called a “serious incident.”
Hannah-Kim stated in the video: “No one wants to be attacked at work or anywhere really. And I don’t think anybody would think this is normal or warranted or acceptable.”
The performer added, “I just think that when you are confronted with something like this, it’s good to stand up for yourself. It’s an important choice to make. I think it’s the good choice to make.
Hannah-Kim also shared: “I also want to express that this does not represent my experience with the show at large. I think everybody can tell that it’s a really good vibe and a great cast. And everybody else is delightful. I don’t want this to affect your love for the show. Feel free to love on it as hard as you want.”
According to an incident report filed by a Puyallup police officer, the biting occurred last week. Hannah-Kim approached her former co-star at Washington State’s Summer Con in Puyallup. She then tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.
“When Alicia did this, Martin Kove suddenly grabbed her arm and bit her upper arm so hard it nearly drew blood, and she yelled out in pain. Once Martin Kove finished biting her arm, he grabbed her arm again and began kissing it where he had bit her (Alicia had a very noticeable bite mark on her arm that was already turning blue and bruising),” the report states.
Hannah-Kim and her husband then questioned Kove about the assault. The report states that the actor “exploded on them, saying something to the effect of how dare they confront him, and he did not do anything wrong.” Kove later admitted to biting Hannah-Kim, but said “he thought he was being funny.”
Hannah-Kim reported Kove of biting her during a VIP meet-and-greet to convention employees. They then asked him to leave the convention. Hannah-Kim told an officer stationed in the VIP area about her interaction with him after the incident, which led to his removal from the event. However, she declined to press official charges. But she filed a report “in case this continues.”
Kove issued a public apology to Hannah-Kim the following day, after news of the incident broke. “I deeply regret and apologize for my actions regarding the incident with Alicia (Hannah-Kim), a genuinely kind and wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be put in this position,” the actor said in a statement to TMZ, sent from Jaffe & Co. Crisis Management.
“I’e always respected her and considered her a highly professional and talented co-worker on Cobra Kai. I was being playful in the moment but went too far and there is absolutely no excuse for my behavior. I regret my actions for which I take full responsibility for what I did, and again I apologize to her and her husband. I’m committed to learning from this and it will never happen again,” Kove added.
During the fifth and sixth seasons of the martial arts series, Hannah-Kim portrayed Kim Da-Eun. Meanwhile, Kove reprised his role as John Kreese — the antagonist from the 1984 film The Karate Kid — in the Netflix spinoff show.
If you liked this article, please share your comment below.