Kanye West Attempts To Justify LAX Paparazzi Attack

Kanye West and the paparazzi have had a well-documented turbulent relationship this past year.

However, in a video filmed by TMZ, West spoke directly to the paps at a gas station today (Oct 11th) in Calabasas, CA.

The 36 year-old told the photographers that he only desires respect for him and his family, as he said, "I couldn't imagine my daughter [North West] being like 4 years old, and you guys screamin at 'em. I think somebody screamed at Tom Cruise's daughter or something like that".

This then got Kanye talking about the infamous attack on a photographer outside LAX airport on July 19th; "I'm dealing with some guy setting me up at the airport the other day".

Adding, "You know he's f--king laughing and shit. What I didn't get to say on Jimmy Kimmel-that's the day I found out that my grandfather was not gonna make it. He passed two weeks later,"

Kanye further shared, "But I'm comin' out the airport, because you know, 'It's Kanye whatever, they're gonna f--k with him and antagonize him.' But I tried to stop his camera and stuff, then he fell down and faked it and everybody was like, 'Oh yo, why'd you hit that guy?' Obviously I didn't hit the guy. But you know I'm going through shit.I know you guys are gonna photograph me. I know I have a cool-ass car and s--t, like I got a dope-ass outfit on, it's all good."

The 'Yeezus' hit maker is now facing battery and attempted grand theft auto charges for the incident with the photographer, David Ramos, filing a lawsuit against the rapper on August 21st, claiming that Kanye approached Ramos "without warning or provocation" and that he "suddenly attacked, punching [the plaintiff] and attempting to wrestle the camera from Ramos' hands".

The lawsuit is still pending and Ramos is seeking damages for battery, assault, negligence and interference with the exercise of civil rights.

Kanye West just learned his grandfather was dying before the LAX incident