It seems that Martin Kove may have strayed a bit from his character’s ethical principles.
The 78-year-old “Cobra Kai” actor was reportedly removed from a fan convention in Washington state after accusations surfaced that he assaulted his co-star, Alicia Hanna Kim, over the weekend.
Kim informed police at the event that Kove allegedly bit her arm and initiated unwanted kissing after she expressed discomfort.
According to police reports, Kim stated that the incident happened when she playfully tapped Kove on the shoulder to greet him at the booth.
“Martin Kove suddenly grabbed her arm and bit her upper arm hard. After he stopped biting, he pulled her in for a kiss,” she claimed.
Kim, who played Kim Da-Eun alongside Kove in seasons 5 and 6 of the Netflix series, mentioned that her husband, Sebastian Roche, was present and witnessed the altercation.
When Roche confronted Kove, he reportedly “exploded at them,” insisting that he did nothing wrong.
An officer on site observed “very noticeable bite marks” on her arm, which was bruised and swollen.
Law enforcement stated that during questioning, Kove acknowledged the incident but insisted it was meant as a joke.
“He thought he was being funny, considering the ongoing rivalry in Cobra Kai,” the report cited. He seemed unaware of the seriousness of his actions.
When informed by the officer that what he did was indeed illegal and unacceptable, Kove responded, insisting his intent was playful and not malicious.
Despite the situation, Kim chose not to file charges but requested that a report be made “in case this continues.”
Following the incident, Kove was “escorted from the event,” as detailed in the report.
Representatives for Kove were contacted for comments.
The actor is widely recognized for his role as John Kreese in the original 1984 movie “The Karate Kid,” which he reprised in sequels two and three.
He joined the Netflix series “Cobra Kai” in 2018 but will not return for a seventh season, as announced by the show’s creators.
