Alicia Hannah-Kim Breaks Silence on Being Bitten by Martin Kove: “This Was a Serious Incident”

In a stunning turn of events that has left fans of Cobra Kai reeling, actress Alicia Hannah-Kim has gone public with her account of being bitten by fellow cast member Martin Kove during a fan convention appearance earlier this month. The incident, which took place at Washington State Summer Con in Puyallup, resulted in police involvement and Kove’s removal from the venue.

Hannah-Kim, who portrayed the fierce and commanding Kim Da-Eun on the popular Netflix martial arts series, addressed the matter directly in a video posted to Instagram on Sunday. With a visible bruise on her arm, the actress thanked her supporters and clarified that the bizarre incident should not taint fans’ perception of the show or its cast.

“I know that there’s a lot going on in the world right now, so I am going to keep this brief,” Hannah-Kim began. “I was really enjoying my time at Summer Con. I love meeting you guys in real life… But as you can see, this was a serious incident.”

According to a police report obtained by Entertainment Weekly, the encounter occurred when Hannah-Kim walked past Martin Kove—best known for his long-running role as John Kreese, the villainous sensei from The Karate Kid franchise and Cobra Kai—and greeted him with a light shoulder tap. Kove allegedly responded by grabbing her arm and biting down hard, nearly breaking the skin.

“I yelped and drew back and then he grabbed my arm again to kiss it,” Hannah-Kim wrote in a handwritten statement submitted to police. She described “visible teeth marks and immediate bruising and pain,” which she showed to her event handler and her husband, actor Sebastian Roché.

The actress explained that they confronted Kove about the incident roughly 30 minutes later in the convention’s green room. His reaction, she noted, was far from apologetic.

“He was furious & outraged and visibly angry when I told him calmly not to bite me,” she recounted. “He insisted he bit me for fun.”

Police who interviewed Kove on-site confirmed that the actor admitted to the act. According to the responding officer, Kove claimed he was simply “messing around” and thought it was funny, referencing the “play fighting” that sometimes occurred on the set of Cobra Kai.

But the officer was clear in response: “I advised him that what he did was illegal,” the report states.

For Hannah-Kim, however, the incident was anything but playful.

“I just think that when you are confronted with something like this, it’s good to stand up for yourself,” she told her followers in the video. “It’s an important choice to make. I think it’s the good choice to make.”

Despite the troubling experience, Hannah-Kim made a point of separating the actions of one individual from the greater Cobra Kai community. “This does not represent my experience with the show at large,” she said. “I think everybody can tell that it’s a really good vibe and a great cast. And everybody else is delightful.”

The video statement has drawn strong reactions from fans and fellow actors, many of whom have expressed shock and support for Hannah-Kim. While neither Netflix nor representatives for Kove have issued an official comment, the event has prompted broader conversations around boundaries, respect, and safety at public appearances.

Martin Kove, 78, is a longtime fixture in the Karate Kid universe, reprising his role as Kreese throughout Cobra Kai’s six-season run. Alicia Hannah-Kim joined the cast in later seasons, bringing to life one of the series’ most formidable female martial artists.

The incident also raises questions about fan conventions and the responsibilities of event organizers when it comes to guest behavior and attendee safety. Summer Con officials have yet to release a detailed statement, though it’s been confirmed that Kove was escorted out of the venue by law enforcement.

As for Hannah-Kim, she’s urging fans to continue supporting the show that brought her international recognition—but not at the cost of ignoring inappropriate behavior.

“Feel free to love on it as hard as you want,” she said, reaffirming her appreciation for the fan base. “Just know that this was not okay.”

While no charges have been filed at this time, the episode serves as a stark reminder that physical boundaries matter—even among colleagues—and that “just joking” is no defense when harm is caused.