Martin Kove has publicly apologized to his Cobra Kai co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim after biting her arm at a fan convention on Sunday.
“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 obtained by Variety from Jaffe & Co. Crisis Management. “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 take full responsibility for my actions and again apologize to her and her husband. I’m committed to learning from this, and it will never happen again.”
According to a report from the Puyallup Police Department obtained by Variety on Monday, Alicia Hannah-Kim accused Martin Kove of assaulting her during a Cobra Kai appearance at Summer Con in Puyallup, Washington.
According to the police report, Alicia Hannah-Kim told an officer stationed in the VIP section that after she tapped Martin Kove on the shoulder to say hello, he suddenly grabbed her arm and bit her “so hard he nearly drew blood.” The report states that after she screamed in pain, Kove allegedly began kissing the spot where he had bitten her. Hannah-Kim then alerted her husband, who was also at the convention. When they confronted Kove, he reportedly “exploded on them, saying something to the effect of how dare they confront him.”
Hannah-Kim subsequently reported the assault to the officer. Kove told law enforcement that he was trying to be “funny,” explaining that they “play fight all the time on the set of ‘Cobra Kai.’” Kove was then asked to leave the event. While Hannah-Kim declined to press charges, she requested that a report be filed in case the behavior continues.
In the original 1984 Karate Kid, Martin Kove portrayed John Kreese, the film’s primary antagonist. He reprised the role in two sequels as well as in the Cobra Kai spinoff series.
