Kanye West Settles Paparazzi Assault Lawsuit Before Trial

Kanye West has settled a civil lawsuit stemming from a July 2013 incident where the rapper assaulted a photographer outside Los Angeles’ LAX airport. The trial phase of the lawsuit was set to begin next week. As the central part of the settlement, West apologized to paparazzo Daniel Ramos and posed for a photo – taken by Ramos’ lawyer Gloria Allred – of the two men shaking hands and making amends, the Guardian reports. It’s unclear whether West also gave Ramos financial reparations.

The rapper was previously charged with a misdemeanor count of battery following the Ramos incident. West faced up to a year in prison from the assault, but the producer ultimately submitted a no contest plea and was sentenced to two years probation. West was also ordered to serve 250 hours of community service, attend 24 anger management classes and told to pay restitutions to Ramos for the damaged camera. West is still on probation from the assault. 

Ramos, who claimed to injure his hip in the incident, sued West for assault, battery, negligence and interference with his civil rights following the July 2013 clash, where Ramos’ question of “Kanye, why can’t we talk to you?” resulted in West lashing out at the photographer.

“This case sent an important message,” Allred said after the settlement. “Celebrities are not above the law, and they have no right to physically attack someone simply because they were asked a question.”