Actor Martin Kove, best known for his iconic role as John Kreese in the Karate Kid films and the hit series Cobra Kai, will not face criminal charges following an alleged biting incident involving his co-star, Alicia Hannah-Kim, at a fan convention in Puyallup, Washington, over the weekend.
The alleged encounter occurred Sunday during a VIP meet-and-greet event at the Washington State Summer Con where both actors were participating. Hannah-Kim, who joined the Cobra Kai cast in Season 5 as the formidable Kim Da-Eun, reportedly told police the incident was “completely unprovoked.”
According to details from a police report, Hannah-Kim claims that as she walked past Kove’s table, the 78-year-old actor unexpectedly grabbed her arm and bit down forcefully. She reported crying out in pain, stating the bite was hard enough to “nearly draw blood” and left a “very noticeable bite mark on her arm that was already turning blue and bruising.” Following the bite, Kove allegedly kissed her arm and attempted to grab it again.
Hannah-Kim’s husband, actor Sebastian Roche, reportedly witnessed the incident. When Hannah-Kim calmly told Kove that his behavior was unacceptable, she stated he became “furious and outraged.” Kove allegedly dismissed the action as a “playful jest,” insisting he “bit me for fun” and claiming they “play fight all the time on set.”
Despite the alleged severity of the bite and Kove’s reported admission to the investigating officer that he bit Hannah-Kim’s arm and said he did it “out of jest,” Kove was not arrested. This was because Alicia Hannah-Kim ultimately chose not to press criminal charges. However, she did request that an official informational police report be filed regarding the encounter and ensured photographic evidence of the bite mark was included in the formal record.
After the police report was completed, Martin Kove reportedly apologized to both Alicia Hannah-Kim and her husband. He was subsequently asked to leave the Washington State Summer Con event.
Kove later issued a public apology via a crisis management firm. In the statement, he expressed deep regret for his actions, calling Hannah-Kim a “genuinely kind and wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be put in this position.” He acknowledged there was “absolutely no excuse” for his behavior, stating he “was being playful in the moment but went too far.” He took full responsibility and committed to learning from the incident.
The alleged incident has sparked significant discussion online, ranging from condemnation of Kove’s behavior to reactions referencing his character John Kreese’s aggressive nature. Some commentators have noted the incident as potentially fitting into a pattern of older actors whose problematic behaviors are sometimes excused as “just joking,” a defense critics argue lacks awareness or is a leftover from different eras.
Martin Kove has an extensive acting career spanning over 50 years, though he is most recognized for his enduring portrayal of the villainous sensei John Kreese. Alicia Hannah-Kim has been acting since her teenage years and joined the popular Cobra Kai series in its fifth season. Both actors were among several Cobra Kai cast members present at the Washington State Summer Con.
References
- www.yahoo.com
- www.themirror.com
- <a href="https://www.pajiba.com/celebritiesarebetterthanyou/martin-kove-the-latest-older-male-actor-to-use-humor-to-excuse-the-inexcusable.php”>www.pajiba.com
- <a href="https://www.imdb.com/es/news/ni65350417/?ref=ttnwr_2″>www.imdb.com
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com
