Alicia Hannah-Kim is speaking out after she was reportedly bit by her Cobra Kai co-star Martin Kove during a fan convention in Washington last weekend.
The actress, 37, shared an Instagram video Sunday, June 29 in which she thanked “everyone who has reached out to me in the past week.”
“I know that there’s a lot going on in the world right now so I’m going to keep this brief,” Hannah-Kim said. “I was really enjoying my time at Summer Con. I love meeting you guys in real life.”
“But as you can see, this was a serious incident,” she continued. “No one wants to be attacked at work, or anywhere really. And I don’t think anybody would think this is normal or warranted or acceptable.”
Hannah-Kim also said, “I just think that when you are confronted with something like this, it’s good to stand up for yourself. It’s an important choice to make. I think it’s the good choice to make.”
She also made clear that her altercation with Kove does not “represent” her otherwise positive experience working on Cobra Kai.
“I think everybody could tell that it’s a really great vibe and a great cast and everybody else is delightful,” she said. “So I don’t want this to affect your love for the show and feel free to love on it as hard as you want. I just wanted to come on here, say thank you to everybody, and just clear it up and move on.”
Hannah-Kim’s statement comes a week after the alleged incident occurred. According to a report from the Puyallup Police Department obtained by TMZ, the 78-year-old actor was accused by Hannah-Kim of biting her so hard on her arm he nearly drew blood.
Hannah-Kim reportedly told a police officer working at the event that Kove grabbed her arm and bit down completely unprovoked after she passed by and said hello. The actress chose not the press charges, but officers allegedly ordered Kove to leave the venue immediately.
The actor reportedly apologized in front of police officers at the scene and again via a statement to the press.
“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 in a statement provided to Deadline. “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. I regret my actions for which I take full responsibility for what I did, and again I apologize to her and her husband. I’m committed to learning from this and it will never happen again.”
