Photographer accuses rap star Kanye West of assault
Nov 15 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal
RAP superstar Kanye West was arrested after allegedly assaulting a photographer following his Newcastle gig.
The American singer was with friends at city centre nightclub Tup Tup Palace in the early hours of yesterday morning when the incident happened.
West, 31, had just hours earlier performed in front of a sell-out crowd at the Metro Radio Arena as part of his Glow In The Dark UK tour.
The star – whose hits include Gold Digger and Stronger – was arrested at around 4am at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead where he was staying.
He was later released without charge following the incident outside the trendy Newcastle nightspot in St Nicholas Street – where he had booked out the entire VIP area – at around 2am
Stockton-based photographer Terry Blackburn, 25, said he suffered a cut to his nose after the star “pushed his camera into his face”.
He told The Journal that the rapper, who scored the number one single American Boy with British star Estelle earlier this year, left the nightclub with four girls and was heading to his chauffeur- driven car.
“I asked him to take a posed picture and he ran around the back of his chauffeur-driven car, he was pushing the camera in my face with some force and it caused my nose to be cut.”
Mr Blackburn, who didn’t need hospital treatment, said that he was told there would be a letter of apology for him at Pilgrim Street police station following the arrest.
But he was told by an officer ‘Mr West is extremely sorry but he couldn’t write the apology letter because of legal litigation.’
“He said what he was intending to do was to put his hand over the lens.”
Last night, Mr Blackburn said that he was seeking “legal advice.”
Earlier this year, the photographer was involved in a melee with Newcastle United legend Paul Gascoigne in Dunston, Gateshead, where he was allegedly head-butted by the former footballing ace.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault following an incident at a Newcastle city centre club in the early hours of the morning. He was released without charge.”
Kayne West could not be contacted last night.
