Steve Aoki Sued For Allegedly Breaking a Fan’s Neck While Stage Diving
Steve Aoki is being sued by a fan who claims the DJ’s crowd-surfing antics at a 2012 show broke her neck and nearly paralyzed her.
Speaking to a local ABC News affiliate, Brittany Hickman alleges that Aoki jumped off the stage during a performance at the Hard Rock Cafe in San Diego, landing on a blow-up raft that she was trapped beneath. Hickman says she fell unconscious and was later diagnosed with a broken neck, which kept her in the hospital for three days and cost her two months of work.
“The doctor comes in and he says ‘don’t move.’ The medics come over and start to put a neck brace on me. And I remember thinking, what’s going on. And the doctor said you broke your neck,” Hickman said. “If I would have thrown my arms above my head or reached for something, I could have paralyzed myself.”
Aoki is known for his energetic stage show, which has included stage-diving, cake-throwing and champagne-spraying in the past.
“I would never want anyone to get hurt at any of my shows and feel badly that someone has, but at this time I have been advised by my attorneys to not speak about this as it’s going to trial,” Aoki said in a statement. “Thank you for your understanding.”
Aoki’s attorney Peter Doody also released the following statement:
“As you know I am the attorney representing Mr. Aoki. This matter arises out of an incident which occurred at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, three years ago. In addition to Mr. Aoki, Ms. Hickman is also suing Hard Rock. Trial in this matter is scheduled for August 28, 2015 before Judge Pressman of the San Diego Superior Court. Because of the ongoing litigation and the pending trial date it would not be appropriate for us to respond to your inquiry at this time or permit an interview.”
