(NewsNation) — Martin Kove is apologizing for biting his “Cobra Kai” co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim at a fan event on Sunday.
Kove allegedly bit Hannah-Kim during a signing event at the Washington State Summer Con in Puyallup, Washington.
In a statement obtained by Entertainment Weekly, “I deeply regret and apologize for my actions regarding the incident with Alicia, a genuinely kind and wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be put in this position. I’ve always respected her and considered her a highly professional and talented co-worker on ‘Cobra Kai.'”
Kove claimed that he was “being playful in the moment,” but he is aware that he went too far and “there is absolutely no excuse for my behavior.” Kove said that he is “committed to learning from this, and it will never happen again.”
Body cam video shows aftermath of Martin Kove incident
NBC News recently obtained body cam footage that showed Hannah-Kim’s reaction to Kove biting her. You can hear the officer saying to Kove, “I’d like to understand why you did that.”
Kove then explains, “I apologize. I was just playing because we’re really playful together, and I bit down too hard…”
Hannah-Kim then interrupts Kove, saying, “No. No, we do not play like that… And right now, Martin, I am really pissed. You have left a mark on my body, which, in your 80-year-old brain, you think is play.”
“Sir, were you raised in a ditch?” she finished.
At the end of the footage, you can see Hannah-Kim speaking with the officer. She decided not to press charges, but did say, “I would like for it to go on his record. I would like it to go on the record between me and him so that he can never do this to me again.”
Police reportedly escorted Kove out of the venue after the incident.
Martin Kove bit Alicia Hannah-Kim during signing event: Police
In the statement to police that was obtained by Entertainment Weekly, Hannah-Kim allegedly said, “I walked past Martin Kove, tapped him on the shoulder and said hello & turned around grabbed my arm and BIT DOWN HARD almost drawing blood.”
The statement also read, “I yelped and drew back and then he grabbed my arm again to kiss it.” Hannah-Kim then said that she went to tell her handler and her husband, Sebastian Roche. “I had visible teeth marks and immediate bruising and pain. We approached Martin in the green room later… and he was furious & outraged and visibly angry when I told him calmly not to bite me.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 19: Martin Kove attends the “1923” S2 Premiere at Harmony Gold on February 19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Paramount+) 
Alicia Hannah-Kim at Sony’s “Karate Kid: Legends” world premiere held at SVA Theatre on May 27, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images) 
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 18: (L-R) Ralph Macchio, Martin Kove and William Zabka attend “Cobra Kai” press line at Hilton Bayfront on July 18, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 12: Alicia Hannah-Kim attends Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” Series Finale Premiere Event at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on February 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Jesse Kove and Martin Kove attend Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” Series Finale World Premiere at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on February 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix) 
Alicia Hannah-Kim at the 2025 Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images) 
Martin Kove at the “Cobra Kai” Season 6, Part 1 at Autry Museum at Griffith Park on July 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Hannah-Kim claimed that Kove said he bit her “for fun.” The star later admitted to “biting Alicia’s arm and said he did it out of jest and he thought he was being funny, and they play fight all the time… and he did not think it was a big deal,” according to the police report.
Kove plays John Kreese in “Cobra Kai” and also appeared in three of the “Karate Kid” films. Hannah-Kim played Kim Da-Eun in 14 episodes of the series.