Martin Kove Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations
Martin Kove, 78, is an actor best known for playing John Kreese, the ruthless sensei in The Karate Kid films and Netflix’s Cobra Kai. He has over 230 acting credits, including roles in Rambo: First Blood Part II and Cagney & Lacey.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Kove is a veteran martial artist and a recognizable figure in Hollywood.
His career spans decades, with Cobra Kai reviving his fame as the iconic villain.
Recent Incident at Fan Convention
On June 22, 2025, Kove was removed from Washington State Summer Con in Puyallup. His Cobra Kai co-star Alicia Hannah-Kim accused him of biting her arm during a VIP meet-and-greet.
Hannah-Kim, 37, reported that Kove grabbed her arm and bit it hard, nearly drawing blood. She said the incident occurred after she tapped Kove’s shoulder to say hello. Kove allegedly kissed her arm afterward, prompting her to cry out in pain.
Sexual Harassment Allegations in 2024
In April 2024, Kove faced a sexual harassment investigation on the Cobra Kai set in Atlanta. A female extra accused him of leering and making comments that made her uncomfortable. No physical harassment was alleged, but Sony Pictures Television investigated the claims.
Sony executives reportedly “read Kove the riot act” after speaking with the extra and others.
Kove was encouraged to apologize but was not asked to leave the set.
Who Alleged Him?
Alicia Hannah-Kim, who plays Kim Da-Eun in Cobra Kai, reported the biting incident. Her husband, actor Sebastian Roché, witnessed it and confronted Kove with her.
The 2024 harassment claim came from an unnamed female extra on the Cobra Kai set. Hannah-Kim and Roché told police Kove became “furious and outraged” when confronted. Kove denied the 2024 allegations, stating, “It wasn’t true then, and it isn’t true now.”
Case Registration and Response
Hannah-Kim filed a police report after the Summer Con incident but did not press charges. She requested an informational report to document the event in case of future incidents.
Police noted visible bite marks and bruising on her arm, with photos taken for the report. No formal charges were filed in the 2024 harassment case, but Sony reprimanded Kove.
Kove issued a public apology to Hannah-Kim, admitting he “went too far.”
Public Reaction
Kove’s recent controversies add to earlier stories of odd behavior, like a 2013 anecdote from Bill Hader.
Hader claimed Kove deliberately got him lost while driving him to a set in the 1990s. The Cobra Kai biting incident sparked outrage online, with some calling for legal action.
Kove’s apology cited “playful” intent, but Hannah-Kim rejected this, saying, “We do not play like that.”
The allegations have raised questions about Kove’s conduct and accountability in the industry.
