In a truly bizarre moment that no one saw coming, Cobra Kai actor Martin Kove is now publicly apologizing after he bit co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim’s arm during a fan convention—an incident that involved police and nearly led to charges.
The Cobra Kai cast was in Washington state over the weekend for a fan event when things reportedly took a weird turn. Alicia Hannah-Kim claimed that Kove bit her arm hard enough to almost break the skin, and then kissed it after she cried out in pain. Law enforcement was called, but no arrest was made as Hannah-Kim ultimately declined to press charges.
According to a police report obtained by Deadline, “Martin Kove 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 on the set of Cobra Kai, and he did not think it was a big deal.”
Still, Kove has since addressed the moment with a formal apology.
“I deeply regret and apologize for my actions regarding the incident with Alicia (Hannah-Kim), a genuinely kind and wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be put in this position,” Kove said in a statement to Deadline.
“I’ve always respected her and considered her a highly professional and talented co-worker on Cobra Kai. I was being playful in the moment but went too far and there is absolutely no excuse for my behavior. I regret my actions for which I take full responsibility for what I did, and again I apologize to her and her husband. I’m committed to learning from this and it will never happen again,” he added.
While Kove’s statement signals a sincere effort to take accountability, fans online are still scratching their heads. Social media lit up with reactions ranging from confusion to disbelief over the biting incident.
As of now, neither Hannah-Kim nor Netflix has issued an official statement, and Kove remains involved with the Cobra Kai cast. But the odd episode has certainly left an unexpected mark on the show’s offscreen legacy.
