Cobra Kai’s Martin Kove Bites Co-Star, Grudgingly Apologizes to Alicia Hannah-Kim
Fantastic. Another fan convention snafu grabbed headlines when Cobra Kai’s veteran villain Martin Kove decided to test if co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim’s arm was costume-munchable. TMZ first broke the story after convention security in Washington state escorted Kove off the floor at lightning speed. Why? Because Alicia told cops he bit her so hard she nearly bled—hardly the autograph-session highlight anyone ordered.
According to TMZ and People Magazine, the actor—famous for snarling menacingly in The Karate Kid—wasted no time issuing a public apology. In his statement, Kove called Alicia “a genuinely kind and wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be put in this position.” He admitted he was “being playful in the moment but went too far,” stressed he’s always “respected her” as a professional, and conceded “there is absolutely no excuse for my behavior.” Then came the obligatory “I take full responsibility” line and a vow “to learn from this” so “it will never happen again.” I told you so. When grown actors start treating limbs like chew toys, an apology is the least they owe.
Let’s break down the face-palm moments. First, biting at a public appearance isn’t spontaneous fun—it’s a health hazard and PR nightmare. Second, dragging Alicia’s husband into the apology only underscores how far off-script this bit of theater went. Third, being a seasoned pro on a hit Netflix series doesn’t grant you a teeth-out pass. If Kove thought he was tapping into Method acting, he misread the memo—as in, “don’t chomp on your co-stars.”
Fans posting convention footage on social media seemed equally bewildered. Comments ranged from “Did he forget biting was for vampires?” to “Somebody cue the stunt coordinator.” Meanwhile, Cobra Kai showrunners have remained radio silent, presumably polishing their crisis-management playbook. As for Alicia, sources say she’s focused on healing and getting back to filming without any more impromptu dental exams.
Of course, celebrity apologies are a dime a dozen, but few involve actual bite marks. Kove’s mea culpa may check the “public statement” box, but it’s going to take more than regret-filled press releases to erase that chomp from everyone’s mind. If you’re looking for silver linings, here it is: next convention, you might want to stick to elbow bumps and hogtie any rogue martial-arts vets before they sink their teeth into the nearest limb.
At this point, I half-expected the next autograph seeker to try a headlock. And that, folks, sums up why cons are best handled with gloves on—figuratively, at least.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
