Cobra Kai actress Alicia Hannah-Kim has accused her co-star Martin Kove of assault during an appearance at Summer Con in Washington on Sunday, June 22.
According to a police report, the 37-year-old actress said she approached Kove, 78, at their shared booth to greet him with a light tap on the shoulder. She alleges that Kove suddenly grabbed her arm and bit her upper arm with such force that it nearly broke the skin, prompting her to cry out in pain.
The report further states that Kove then held her arm again and kissed the same spot where he had bitten her.
Alicia Hannah-Kim and her husband, actor Sebastian Roché, immediately confronted Martin Kove following the alleged assault. According to reports, Kove became defensive and maintained that he had done nothing wrong. Hannah-Kim then alerted on-site law enforcement, who observed a “very noticeable bite mark” on her arm, which was reportedly already bruising and turning blue.
When questioned by an officer, Kove allegedly admitted to biting Hannah-Kim but claimed it was done “in jest,” explaining that they often engage in playful interactions on the Cobra Kai set and he didn’t view the incident as serious.
Hannah-Kim responded that she was genuinely hurt and upset, and both she and the officer informed Kove that his behavior was inappropriate and could be considered unlawful. Kove reportedly replied that he “did not mean for it to be perceived that way” and was merely “messing around.”
Although Alicia Hannah-Kim decided not to press charges, she requested that a formal report be filed in the event of any further incidents. Both she and her husband signed affidavits, and a case number was issued.
Martin Kove and his son declined to provide written statements and were escorted from the venue at the discretion of a Cobra Kai producer who was present.
Kove is widely recognized for his portrayal of John Kreese in The Karate Kid franchise, a role he reprised in Netflix’s Cobra Kai, which ran for six seasons. Hannah-Kim joined the show in its fifth season as Kim Da-Eun.
