Lawyer spars with Kanye West over paparazzi run-in

LOS ANGELES, USA – The lawyer for a photographer who is suing Kanye West for alleged assault hit out at the US rapper in a TV interview Thursday, October 10, for apparently threatening other cameramen.

Gloria Allred branded as “shameful” West’s comments on the late-night Jimmy Kimmel show, in which the rapper declared himself a genius and warned cameramen not to “antagonize” him.

“Last night, Mr. West made it clear that he thinks he has the right to attack anyone that antagonizes him by asking him a question that he does not like,” Allred, a well-known US celebrity lawyer, said in a statement.

“He thinks that paparazzi are fair game. In his televised appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show he sent a message that anyone that crosses him is not safe,” Allred said on behalf of cameraman Daniel Ramos, whom West allegedly attacked at the Los Angeles airport in July.

‘Creative genius’

In the TV show late Wednesday, West said: “I’m a creative genius, and I know you’re not supposed to say that about yourself … For me to say I wasn’t a genius, I would be lying to you and myself.”

Pointing at the cameras trained on him, he said: “I care about protecting my girls, protecting my baby, and protecting my ideas and dreams.

“Don’t try to antagonize me, because it’s not safe for you in this zoo .. Never think that I’m not from Chicago for one second,” said West, whose partner, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, had a baby, named North West, in June.

Allred said Thursday: “We have a message to you Mr. West in response. You will be held accountable for your actions both in the criminal justice system and in the civil justice system.

“Your remarks are shameful and add further insult to the injuries that you inflicted upon my client.” – Rappler.com