Kanye West and his bodyguard were arrested this morning at LAX after attacking members of the paparazzi. The two are facing charges of felony vandalism for smashing over $10,000 worth of camera equipment. TMZ photographer Erik was at the scene and had his camera destroyed by Kanye’s bodyguard. Here’s his account:
Erik says he was at Terminal 4 (American Airlines) when he noticed a still photog taking several pictures of Kanye West. Erik says West rushed the photog and grabbed his camera. A struggle ensued and the still guy was screaming, “Police, help!” Erik says Kanye then took the still camera and threw it on the ground, breaking it into pieces.
Erik then went over to Kanye, his camera rolling, when Kanye’s bodyguard walked up to him, realized Erik was taping, and said, “Give me the camera, give me the camera.” Erik responded that he had a press pass and had a right to shoot. The assistant then grabbed the camera, ripped off the mic and viewfinder and smashed it to the ground.
Erik says Kanye then tried to leave to board his plane, but cops stopped him before he got to security. The cops then interviewed Erik, the still photog, Kanye and his assistant.
This is where it gets crazy. The cops asked Erik if he videotaped the incident and Erik said he had. That’s when Kanye lunged toward him and said, “Give me the fu***ng videotape.” Cops had to restrain Kanye as he tried coming at Erik.
You know what’s always smart? Attacking an eyewitness right in front of the police. When it comes to genius legal maneuvers, you just can’t lose with that one – except for completely and, wow, what a fucking idiot. That said, Jesus, Kanye, if you’re going to do something, don’t half-ass it. Ask to use the officer’s gun. You pay taxes.
Lisa | September 11, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Sweet! Nice to see him stay in control like usual.
Martin Bormann | September 11, 2008 at 1:20 pm
He’ll do about 1 hour in jail.
rough daddy | September 11, 2008 at 1:23 pm
pompous jackass, im not reading all this crap,,,not that interested
LL | September 11, 2008 at 1:25 pm
What a retard. Now he’ll have twice as many douchebags taking his picture the next time he walks through an airport, waiting for him to do some stupid shit like this. Moron.
Sid | September 11, 2008 at 1:26 pm
In a way, this is another type of emotional tribute to his mom.
obama sucks | September 11, 2008 at 1:28 pm
It’s all a publicity stunt so he can get more street cred like Fiddy Sent
Chris | September 11, 2008 at 1:30 pm
They’ll drop all charges once he admits that he was retaining water and breaking out.
Swizzlestick | September 11, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Kanye West doesn’t care about white people.
Booya | September 11, 2008 at 1:34 pm
GOOD! I hate that arrogant douchebag
be glad when he finally goes broke all MC Hammer style… and AIDS it’d be good if he got AIDS.
Link | September 11, 2008 at 1:35 pm
ANGRY BLACK MAN IN THE BUILDING!
dana | September 11, 2008 at 1:35 pm
he should just blame this on george bush
Barack Obama | September 11, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Vote for me. I’m a radical Marxist.
Where's Darkwing Duck? | September 11, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Well, you know what they say,
You can take the nigga out the ‘hood, but you can’t….
Wait, his mom was a Dr? He was raised in the suburbs?
Kanye West is a whiny, douchebag faggot.
Barack Obama | September 11, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I’m f’ing Matt Damon!!
Bucky Goldstein | September 11, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Kanye West doesn’t care about Jewish Cowboys.
Michelle Obama | September 11, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I’M f’ing Matt Damon!!!!!!!!!
McCain supporter | September 11, 2008 at 1:42 pm
See, this is why I could never vote for Obama. Just looking at a picture of a nigger – any nigger – makes me sick.
Skeeter McGillicuddy | September 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Kanye West doesn’t care about Scottish hillbillies.
Barack Obama | September 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Ah’s promiss not to use mah powah to keep bruthas down lok dis.
FRIST!!! | September 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm
rough daddy, I’m sure if you ask nicely, your cubicle buddy will read it to you, big words and all..
Barak Obama | September 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm
What did you expect from a porch monkey? Whitey (Britney Spears) only attack the paps when they are high on drugs, not when they are uneducated scum.
veggi | September 11, 2008 at 1:46 pm
@19- Is that you rough daddy??
FIZ | September 11, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Does anyone else notice his double jointed finger tips?
bah | September 11, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Keepin’ it Klassy Kanye!
Bleh | September 11, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I don’t think that’s the real Obama….
Somethings not right here
rough daddy | September 11, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Frist=lonely, and youre not getting my attention, unless y
rough daddy | September 11, 2008 at 1:51 pm
you get that link working again with a clear pic
Barack Obama | September 11, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Ah aint rough daddy Bitch! Ah knows YOU veggi, but y’all don’ know ME. rough daddy a noob here anywayz.
obama sucks | September 11, 2008 at 1:53 pm
He looks like a metrosexual with those long skinny fingers and wearing those dopey sunglasses indoors
Poon Tang | September 11, 2008 at 1:53 pm
. I’m glad Kanye & his bodyguard did that. Famous people are seriously harassed these days and it’s good to see that they’re striking back against the people who disrespect their privacy on a regular basis. Paparazzi are fucking scum and need to get REAL JOBS
sixpack | September 11, 2008 at 1:57 pm
This guy is such a raging ‘bag.
Vince Lombardi | September 11, 2008 at 1:59 pm
“TMZ hates Black people.”
bah | September 11, 2008 at 1:59 pm
@30
hey dumbass, do you own any expensive film or video equipment? hows about i smash it for fun? is he that retarded that he doesn’t understand the concept of assault?
he’ll sure as fuck get it when they both sue his ass and he ends up tied up in court over something so immature, unless he settles. either way, this will cost him. he deserves it, dude’s a whiny cocksucker who takes his aggression out on his mac book air (again, total fag)
Vince Lombardi | September 11, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I guess if my mom died during a needless cosmetic surgical procedure that I paid for from money that I obtained without any discernible talent, I’d hit a guy taking my picture, too.
veggi | September 11, 2008 at 2:04 pm
See that FRIST!!!? You aren’t getting any of assclowns attention unless y..
What is that rough daddy?? The chromosome you’re missing?? The sound your mouth makes when you look in the mirror?? Just another post that doesn’t contain a complete sentence??
Notsure | September 11, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Just going to throw this out there for the Superfish… Wouldn’t this be a second-hand account of Erik’s witness to the incident?
rough daddy | September 11, 2008 at 2:13 pm
#35 ohhh now i see why you chose that name veggi, you type in a vegetative state! now it all make sense!
Hollard | September 11, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Listen, I am by no means a racist, but Kanye is a fucking nigger.
N i g g e r.
N i g g e r.
N i g g e r.
Racer X | September 11, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Racist.^
Right Fury | September 11, 2008 at 2:26 pm
This is a conspiracy. How dare you you question Kanye? He had a good reason for going ghetto on ‘dat ass.
Don’t worry. When Osama gets elected, he’ll hook a brutha up and throw him a pardon.
FRIST!!! | September 11, 2008 at 2:27 pm
#35 refer to #26 perhaps you prematurely hit submit the same way you prematurely ejaculate on you cat..
Jessica Lubber | September 11, 2008 at 2:32 pm
He’s got one of those DNC get out of jail cards like Bon Jovi’s guitarist. Nothing will happen as long as he continues to be a gracious party favor for the big donors.
rough daddy | September 11, 2008 at 2:40 pm
“on you cat” what college did you learn this sentence?
rough daddy's gay lover | September 11, 2008 at 2:48 pm
come back to bed silly my bottom is all lubed up for you tough guy
ansel adams | September 11, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Kanye is a douche bag. What a waste of space. Someone needs to fuck that guy up.
TJ | September 11, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Can anyone say, Fatherless Welfare Garbage with money??
Flip | September 11, 2008 at 3:14 pm
What an effing idiot, I hate this talentless douchebag! Anyone here know what REAL Hip-Hop sounds like? A hint; it’s never played on MTV…
TJ | September 11, 2008 at 3:15 pm
#38: BINGO.
Pussy Galore | September 11, 2008 at 3:18 pm
He stole my mom’s sunglasses! WTF!
Pastor Larry | September 11, 2008 at 3:34 pm
You people are unbelievable! Still haters after all these years. Deportation of Asian people after Pearl Harbour, Slavery, rape, torture, humiliation of countless slaves-how many of your so-called Whites have half-black cousins or native -american blood. Suppression of Native Americans on reservations, lying stealing and killing for their land. burnign crosses and bombing innocent children while they attend church. Giving black men Syphylis and no cure so our US government can study the disease(see Tuskegee study) enslaving Chinese for cheap labour. Not one White in this world has cause to ever hate a person of another color-EVER! You all need to beg for forgiveness from GOD because where your going is going to be horrible. THERE WILL BE NO SEGREGATION IN HEAVEN PEOPLE! your ignorance, racism and hate sicken me and make me ashamed of belonging to your race. Hate all you want lie(like a Republican) but you WILL not escape judgement. I think the White race knows it’s guilty and hates itself and turns that hate outward. Even our US Presidents slept with their slaves and professed Godliness on Sunday. God Hates liars. Read your Bible …ALL liars and others will go to Hell. Even Ex-prez Clinton–scumbag that he was had the balls to apologize. Kanye’s Mom had the same right as any person or celebrity to get plastic surgery. I don’t hear any of you guys whining as you drool over all kinds of celebs who have probably had miles of surgery and tons of air-brushed photos. A little less hate is in order. God made people the color, race that HE choose to make them and who are you to criticize HIS work? No one will escape judgement no matter how hateful or racist you want to be. Most of you will never sell an album and make millions or hang with famous people and certainly not with your hateful, ugly souls and attitudes. Who’d want to be around you other than other ignorant, ugly hateful people?