Kanye West Addresses Altercation, Reveals Why He Punched A Man

Kanye West is detailing his side of the altercation that took place early Thursday morning in downtown Los Angeles.

In his upcoming episode of "Hollywood Unlocked," the 44-year-old rapper — who now goes by Ye — admitted to punching a man after he was accused of battery earlier this week.

However, West explained that, unlike what reports have claimed, the man he struck was not a fan but was "taking autographs to make money on them."

"It was 3 a.m. in front of the Warehouse. I'm saying, 'You don't know what I'm dealing with right now.' I just finished these two songs, I came from the studio," West explained in a sneak peek obtained by Entertainment Tonight. "And this dude, he just had this real attitude, like, 'What you gonna do? And see that?' Imma just tell you, that blue COVID mask ain't stop that knockout, you know what I'm saying?"

The Yeezy founder was named a suspect in a battery report from Thursday's altercation, an anonymous Los Angeles Police Department source told People. West jumped out of his car outside Soho Warehouse and punched a man who approached him for an autograph, knocking him to the ground, the report alleged.

"This is the same as the paparazzi, this is not a fan," West said of the man he punched. "This is someone who is using your image, who probably never listened to your songs."

In a video obtained by TMZ of the incident, the "Gold Digger" rapper could be seen screaming "get away from me" at a woman who told him, "I am your family," as a man lay on the sidewalk nearby. West then shouted back at her: "No! No, you were supposed to talk to her."

West revealed that the woman in the footage was his cousin. According to the "Donda" artist, the woman had just returned from attempting to speak to his estranged wife Kim Kardashian about personal parenting matters.

"So I end up getting into an altercation with the guy that wanted to make money off of my autographs, then my cousin pulls up and she's talking to me," West continued. "I say, 'Give me a breather. Get away from me.' She is not taking accountability for the fact that she did not do what she was supposed to do, and that added to me being in a mood where I was like, 'I am not going to have this.'"

Police said they are investigating the alleged incident, and no arrests have been made, according to ET.

In the same interview, West explained why he decided to purchase a new home across Kardashian's mansion in Hidden Hills, California. The Grammy winner said he bought the property to be near his and Kardashian's four children — North, 8, Saint, 6, Chicago, 3, and Psalm, 2.

He explained that he knew how it felt to be away from a parent and didn't want his kids to experience the same.

"When my mom took me from Atlanta to Chicago, my dad didn’t come to the coldest and most dangerous city in the world to be next to me," West shared. "There’s nothing with my career, whether it’s rap [or designing], none of that is going to keep me from my children."