Kanye West settles autograph dealer’s assault, battery suit

Kanye West / FILE PHOTO

LOS ANGELES – Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by an autograph dealer who alleged the rapper punched him after he asked for an autograph near the Soho Warehouse social club in an industrial area of Los Angeles in 2022.

The plaintiffs in the Los Angeles Superior Court case are Justin Poplawski and his wife, Tiffany Marshall. The couple contended that Ye blamed his divorce from Kim Kardashian for his foul mood. Poplawski alleged assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence, while Marshall alleged she suffered a loss of consortium.

But in court papers filed Thursday with Judge Theresa M. Traber, the couple’s lawyers stated that the case was resolved Sept. 11. No terms were divulged.

In earlier court papers, Ye’s attorney cited multiple defenses on behalf of his client, including that the singer “was justified in doing any and/or all of the acts alleged in the complaint” and that the entertainer “acted in defense of himself and/or others.”

According to the suit, Poplawski had previously obtained Ye’s autograph without a problem. The plaintiff was standing on a sidewalk near the Soho Warehouse on South Santa Fe Avenue on Jan. 13, 2022, when Ye saw him, said he was going to make an example of him and referred to his divorce from Kardashian, the suit claimed.

Ye struck Poplawski, who asked for an apology, the suit stated. Ye allegedly replied, “Apology for what?” and struck the plaintiff additional times, severely injuring him, according to the suit, which was filed Jan. 10.

Ye, now 47, then began shouting at the singer’s own companions, one of whom told the rapper to stop hitting Poplawski, the suits stated. (CNS)