Last July, Kanye West got into some kind of physical altercation with a paparazzo. I’m including some photos from the July 2013 incident, because it took place outside of LAX and obviously, Kanye was surrounded by photographers. While I think Kanye technically assaulted the photographer (Daniel Ramos), I also didn’t get why TMZ and other sites were like “OMG, FELONY ASSAULT.” Kanye rushed Ramos, trying to grab his camera. Ramos and Kanye had a little scuffle (it looked like they were tickling each other) and Ramos ended up on the ground. My dog assaults me more than that on a daily basis. If you want to call it assault, sure, that’s what it is. But don’t try to make it sound like Kanye is some crazy menace and he tried to kill someone.
Anyway, Kanye didn’t settle anything and he didn’t write a check to make it go away. This Ramos guy has been trash-talking Kanye ever sense, trying to claim that Kanye really tried to kill him or something. Well, yesterday, Kanye’s lawyer appeared in court on his behalf to accept a plea deal in the case.
Kanye West has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery against a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport last year in a special plea in which he maintains his innocence.
West was sentenced to two years of probation, 24 anger management therapy sessions and 250 hours of community service. West entered the plea through his attorney and did not attend the court hearing Monday.
The rapper did not reach a civil settlement with the paparazzo, and his plea cannot be used against him in a civil lawsuit. West was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery and grand theft after an altercation at LAX with photographer Daniel Ramos in July.
Ramos claimed West punched him in an unprovoked attack and wrestled his camera to the ground during the scuffle.
TMZ says the grand theft charge was dismissed entirely. If Kanye has no legal issues/criminal issues in the next two years, this charge/plea deal will likely be expunged as well. Apparently, Kanye has agreed to pay for the damage to Ramos’ equipment and “any medical bills he incurred.” TMZ also says this: “The photog addressed the court and said he felt Kanye should be sent to jail. He talked about the trauma Kanye caused him and how his emotional injuries linger. He says he thinks Kanye used the attack to promote his album, Yeezus.” For the love of God! Ramos sounds like such a drama queen. I mean, we all know Kanye is a drama queen too, so he met his match with this one.
I know this is a weird thing to say, but I think I would rather take a few weeks in jail (or in California, it would be a few hours) rather a two-year probation. Two years is a long time, and Kanye is an emotional guy who often acts without thinking things through. I’m just saying… I wouldn’t bet on him keeping his nose clean for two years. At all. But I can’t wait to see what kind of community service he gets.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
+1 one on the therapy
he’ll never go.
Some of those paps really bait the celebs and then cry injury if they’re so much as bumped into.
I’ll be curious to see if he manages to make it through probation. If the show needs drama, Kris won’t think twice about having him get worked up over something.
I think Kanye is wackypants, but I really didn’t see this episode as an assault. I thought the photographer was being opportunistic manufacturing the whole drama for some change. That said, let’s hope the therapist delves deeply into his motivations for aligning himself with ‘she, who shall not be named’. There has to be some underlying toxic psychology associated with that, but I’m no specialist.
I’m not sure who makes me sicker in this duo, so I’ll just watch the show.
If I were him, I wouldn’t even give a damn interview over the next two years. I think they baited him.
He is his own worst enemy. He hates paps so he hooks up with the biggest fame whore in the Universe and her family and then gets all worked up because he becomes part of the circus. I don’t feel bad for him at all because if he thinks the paps are bad now, he hasn’t seen anything yet. After he puts the ring on Kim’s finger the gloves will come off and little North West will be televised right and left and the paps will be on Kim’s speed dial. He doesn’t seem to get that. His ego is huge and really clouds his already juvenile judgment. We will be seeing and hearing more of his wack-a-doodle melt downs I fear and NO Kim is not Marilyn and never will be. He is a clown and a fool, nothing more and nothing less.
Totally agree!!! I too feel that as soon as they’re married, the tables will turn and Kim will do whatever that heck she please when it comes to North. Kanye will go apesh*t!
This man just irks the heck out of me. I mean he just attacked that 18 year old for “slurs”, yet gets away with it once again. What is he going to do when his child is in school and someone calls her IgNori? Go beat up a six year old? I hope he F’s up and lands in jail. Maybe he can go to the same “anger management rehab” Chris brown did. Maybe then that horrible wedding won’t be on, or Kim can marry herself like Dennis Rodman did, since IMO that’s the only person she really loves.
I’m on the opposite side with this. I think these photographers deserve every attack they get. they make their livings harrassing people! it’s practically in the job description! if I were a celebrity, i’d be in jail because I would attack any photographer who got too close or verbally baited me. I can’t believe kanye’s sentence was so strict. I don’t care about him one way or the other, but I think two years of probation and all ofthat community service is crazily excessive. the photog was probably insulting kanye and sticking that camera right in his face. i’m definitely team kanye on this one.
And yet almost all celebs manage to deal with it. He’s an adult. he is fully aware of what will happen but believes himself to be above everything, including the law. And he should probably reign in the witch who keeps calling the paps. Is he so wrapped up in himself that he doesn’t understand what she does for a living?
Great comments, Dawn and Irk! Remember when Kanye stopped, turned around, then said something like “you’re going to cost me $200,000” – and went after the photog ANYWAY? He knows the rules. It’s all part of his Yeezus complex. What a big baby.
It will be interesting to see how Kayne deals with the increased attention from the paps as his wedding to Kim K gets closer.
You know that PMK is going to want as much coverage as she can get for that circus.
dont understand why paparazzi are allowed to stalk people. stalking is stalking, period. They get in your way, use their bodies to block you, hi grade flash photography blinding you etc.
Did he get therapy to write better lyrics than some of the crap on Yeezus or whatever the hell it’s called. He’s not a genius; he’s genuinely delusional. All the parties in this p-ssing match are douches.