A model has accused Kanye West of choking her during a studio session, a claim now under scrutiny by British safeguarding authorities after the woman detailed the incident in a BBC interview. The allegation, which West denies, has prompted a review of workplace safety protocols in the music industry, with unions and campaigners calling for stronger protections for freelancers and contractors.
The woman, who has not been named, told the BBC that West placed his hands around her neck and applied pressure during a recording session in 2021. She said she feared for her life and that the incident left her with lasting physical and psychological injuries. The BBC verified her account through contemporaneous messages and witness statements before airing the interview.
UK safeguarding bodies, including the Health and Safety Executive, have now launched a preliminary review into the working conditions for models and other gig-economy workers in the creative sector. A spokesperson said: “We take all reports of workplace violence seriously. This case raises complex questions about duty of care in ad hoc employment arrangements.”
Unions representing performers and models have long warned that the lack of formal contracts and on-set HR oversight leaves workers vulnerable. “This is not an isolated incident,” said a representative from Equity, the UK performers’ union. “Models and session musicians are often brought in without basic protections. A handshake or a verbal agreement is not enough. We need proper risk assessments and clear reporting channels.”
The allegation comes amid a broader reckoning over power imbalances in the entertainment industry. In the UK, the 2023 Protection from Abuse (Workplace) Act has yet to be fully tested in cases involving freelance workers. Campaigners argue that current law fails to cover temporary arrangements, leaving a loophole that abusers can exploit.
Kanye West’s legal team has categorically rejected the claim, stating that the encounter was consensual and that any physical contact was part of a “creative performance”. They have not commented on the safeguarding review. The model has said she intends to pursue a civil claim and has urged other potential victims to come forward.
The BBC’s decision to broadcast the interview has been praised by some for giving a platform to a vulnerable witness, but questioned by others who argue it could prejudice any future legal proceedings. The corporation has defended its editorial judgment, citing the public interest in safeguarding.
For the women and men working in unsung roles at the edges of the music industry, the case is a stark reminder of the price of neglecting basic rights. As one session musician put it: “We are treated as disposable. We turn up, do the job, and hope nothing goes wrong. If it does, who do you call? There is no HR department for the self-employed.”
The safeguarding review is expected to take several months. Its findings could lead to recommendations for new legal protections or industry-wide codes of conduct. Until then, the model’s story stands as a damning indictment of a system that still too often puts profit before people.
