Gigi Hadid Fights Off Celebrity Prankster Vitalii Sediuk

Bella and Gigi Hadid leave the Max Mara event. (Photo: X17online.com)
Bella and Gigi Hadid leave the Max Mara event. (Photo: X17online.com)

It’s a good thing that Gigi Hadid’s favorite workout is kickboxing because her moves sure came in handy on Wednesday. After walking in the Max Mara show during Milan Fashion Week, the model was manhandled by Vitalii Sediuk, the notorious celebrity prankster, according to TMZ.

Sediuk picked Gigi off the ground as Bella stepped in to help. (Photo: X17online.com)
Sediuk picked Gigi off the ground as Bella stepped in to help. (Photo: X17online.com)

As the 21-year-old was leaving the venue where the Italian brand showed its Spring/Summer 2017 collection, having changed out of the palm tree print pieces into her street style clothes consisting of an off-the-shoulder graphic T-shirt with a pinstriped corset layered on top, Sediuk came up behind her and picked her up.

Gigi fighting off the prankster. (Photo: X17online.com)
Gigi fighting off the prankster. (Photo: X17online.com)

Hadid, who was with her younger sister Bella Hadid, was able to break away from the comedian’s embrace by knocking him in the face with her elbow. Bella also jumped in to help pull Gigi away.

Following the incident, Gigi was accused of getting too physical, but responded on Twitter saying, “The ACTUAL fans that were there can tell you what happened. I’m a HUMAN BEING — and had EVERY RIGHT to defend myself. How dare that idiot thinks he has the right to man-handle a complete stranger. He ran quick tho.”

#gigihadid incident in milan #modeling #model #gigi #hadid #like4like

A video posted by ????celebrityir???? (@celebrityir) on Sep 22, 2016 at 7:28am PDT

Sediuk has targeted lots of high-profile individuals in the past. At Paris Fashion Week in September 2014, he pushed Kim Kardashian to the ground while she was making her way through a mob of people exiting the Balmain show. The Ukrainian journalist also crawled under America Ferrara’s dress at the Cannes Film Festival, verbally assaulted Brad Pitt, jumped onstage at the Grammys, and more.

“I like the show business world. But it’s obviously not my intention to offend someone,” he told the Hollywood Reporter after assaulting Kardashian. “It looks like I’m a monster, but I’m a normal guy. Well, what I’m doing isn’t normal — but I don’t have bad intentions.”

Yahoo Style is live from #FashionMonth! Keep it here for your front row view of the best looks and buzziest moments from Fashion Month.