Kanye West accused of sexual assault and strangulation of a model in lawsuit

Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit that alleges he choked a model in a music video set in 2010 and then put his fingers in her mouth, which the lawsuit describes as “ gag porn.” “

According to a federal lawsuit filed on Friday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the incident occurred at the Chelsea Hotel in New York.

Model Jenifer An appeared in the background of fellow musician Ye’s music video as the suit claims, he made a guest appearance.

On Saturday, NBC News reached out to Rep. Ye and the New York Police Department for comment.

After several hours of filming, Ye arrived and “assumed control of the production and production team,” the lawsuit states.

“He specifically ordered supporting actresses/models, including the Plaintiff, to line up in the hallway. He assessed their appearance, pointed to the two women, and then told them to follow him,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit alleges Ye then pointed at An and said, “Give me that Asian girl.”

An, who was wearing “revealing underwear,” felt uncomfortable but went with him to the apartment with a couch and a camera, he claims.

“Defendant West then ordered the production team to play music. However, defendant West did not know his assigned text and instead slurred, “Rawr, sur, surr,” the lawsuit says. “Defendant West then moved two chairs near the camera, placed them facing each other, and instructed plaintiff to sit in the chair in front of the camera.”

The lawsuit alleges that Ye stood “towering over” An and, breathing heavily, “began to choke plaintiff with one hand.”

“He then wrapped his other hand around her neck and continued to choke her with both hands,” we read. “Defendant West then smothered plaintiff’s face with both hands, which smeared her makeup. He then stuck several fingers down her throat, kept thrusting them in and out, and gagged her to mimic forced oral sex.

The rapper allegedly shouted, “This is art. This is fucking art. I am like Picasso,” the lawsuit reads. She accuses him of sexual assault “in a manner similar to pornographic gag/deepthroat/BDSM fetishes.”

The lawsuit says An had difficulty breathing and “felt as if she had temporarily lost consciousness.” It says when West was done, “An’s face was covered in saliva and smeared makeup.”

Universal Music Group is also named in the lawsuit as a defendant and accused of failing to investigate the incident. The corporation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

The rapper has been at the center of several recent lawsuits, including an amended lawsuit filed last month by former assistant accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. His representative did not respond to the lawsuit.

An, a former finalist on the television competition show “America’s Next Top Model,” said she hopes to “hold perpetrators accountable through legal means” and wants her lawsuit to create “a safer world for us and future artists.”

“Women in the music and entertainment industry have been victims of sexual abuse for years, with no opportunity to speak out or make change,” she said in a statement. “This place is dangerous for women. We are basically objects in the world of entertainment. The industry thrived by placing us in abusive power dynamics.”

Jesse S. Weinstein, An’s lawyer, said he could not provide any details beyond those included in the lawsuit.

“We are honored and privileged to represent Ms. An, who has shown great courage in speaking out against some of the most powerful people and entities in the entertainment industry,” Weinstein said in a press release. “Everyone’s voice is important, and West cannot avoid responsibility due to his success and notoriety.”

An is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against Ye.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.