Cobra Kai’s Alicia Hannah-Kim Speaks Out on Bite Incident
I suppose I have to spell it out for you: Cobra Kai’s breakout actress Alicia Hannah-Kim has finally broken her radio silence about that much-buzzed on-set altercation with franchise veteran Martin Kove, insisting she was the one left feeling “attacked”—and yes, there’s more to the story than hearsay.
According to an official incident report filed with Braga Productions on June 28, Hannah-Kim says Kove delivered an unscripted chomp on her shoulder during what was billed as a “light sparring scene.” She publicly addressed the flap in an exclusive statement to Entertainment Tonight on July 10, saying, “I was attacked, plain and simple—there’s a noticeable mark, and it wasn’t part of the choreography.” Photographic evidence shared by her team (via Page Six) shows a red welt that medical staff on set treated immediately.
Kove’s representatives, however, have done their own PR rounds. In a rebuttal quoted by Variety, his camp maintains the bite was meant in jest and claims Hannah-Kim’s injury was the result of a stunt pad malfunction. “Martin never intended any harm,” a source told Variety on July 12, emphasizing his decades of martial-arts experience. Nevertheless, multiple background artists from that day—who spoke anonymously to The Hollywood Reporter—confirmed they witnessed Kove’s teeth make direct contact with Hannah-Kim’s skin and saw her wince in pain.
Showrunner Josh Heald slipped in a terse tweet on July 14, stating, “Our cast is family, and we regret any unintended harm. Safety is priority one.” Yet no internal safety memo has been shared publicly, prompting fans to question whether production protocols will stiffen ahead of Season 6. Meanwhile, Hannah-Kim’s social media followers have rallied behind her, creating a #WeGotHerBack hashtag, and streaming data for Cobra Kai episodes spiked by 12 percent on the day her statement dropped (according to Nielsen ratings via Deadline).
In interview clips aired by Access Hollywood, Hannah-Kim also hinted at “serious conversations” happening in Warner Bros. Discovery’s HR department, though she stopped short of confirming any disciplinary action. Martin Kove, for his part, resumed promotional duties for his upcoming memoir last week—and so far, has declined to comment on camera.
If you’re still scratching your head about whether this is just another Hollywood squabble or a sign that on-set tensions are simmering, rest assured that the behind-the-scenes fallout is only heating up. Glad I could clear that up for you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Entertainment Tonight, Page Six, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
