‘Cobra Kai’ Star Martin Kove Takes “Full Responsibility” for Convention Incident
Veteran actor Martin Kove, known for his iconic role as John Kreese in the Karate Kid franchise and the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, has issued a public apology after an incident at a fan convention where he bit his co-star, Alicia Hannah-Kim. Kove’s statement emphasizes his deep regret and takes “full responsibility” for his actions.
The incident occurred on Saturday, June 22, at the Summer Con convention in Puyallup, Washington, an event attended by numerous celebrities, including other members of the Cobra Kai cast. Hannah-Kim, who joined the show in Season 5 as South Korean sensei Kim Da-Eun, was reportedly walking past a meet-and-greet table when Kove allegedly grabbed her arm and bit it.
According to police reports filed after the event, Hannah-Kim stated the bite was hard enough to “almost draw blood,” causing her to yell out in pain. Kove then allegedly grabbed her arm again, attempting to kiss it. Hannah-Kim quickly pulled away and returned to her own table.
Both Hannah-Kim and her husband, actor Sebastian Roche, witnessed the event and immediately told Kove his behavior was unacceptable. When later confronted in the convention’s green room, Kove reportedly became “furious and outraged,” insisting he had bitten her “for fun” and claiming they “play fight all the time on the set of Cobra Kai,” asserting it was “not a big deal.”
Puyallup Police Officer Eric Barry investigated the alleged assault. In his report, Officer Barry confirmed that Kove admitted to biting Hannah-Kim’s arm, reiterating his claim that it was done “out of jest” and he thought he was being funny.
No Charges Filed, But Kove Escorted Out
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Hannah-Kim ultimately decided not to pursue criminal charges after a subsequent face-to-face discussion with Kove at the convention. However, she did request an informational police report and photographic evidence be taken for the record. The police report described the bite mark on her arm as “very noticeable,” already “turning blue and bruising.”
Officer Barry informed Kove that while charges would not be pressed, his actions did constitute breaking the law in Washington State and would not be tolerated in the future. Kove declined to provide a voluntary written statement, thanked the officer, and was then escorted out of the Summer Con convention.
Martin Kove Issues Apology
Following news of the incident spreading quickly among attendees and reports surfacing, Martin Kove released a statement through his public relations and crisis management team.
“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,” Kove said. “I’ve 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.”
Kove reiterated, “I regret my actions for which I take full responsibility for what I did, and again I apologize to her and her husband.” He concluded by stating, “I’m committed to learning from this and it will never happen again.”
Fan conventions like Summer Con are significant events for actors like Kove and Hannah-Kim, providing opportunities to interact directly with fans and supplement income through autographs and photos. Other Cobra Kai cast members, including Mary Mouser and Tanner Buchanan, were also present at the event, alongside a host of other well-known figures from various franchises.
References
- deadline.com
- <a href="https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65350437/?ref=nwcart_perm”>www.imdb.com
- www.imdb.com
