Criss Angel sued by audience member for alleged battery and assault following altercation during Las Vegas magic show

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An audience member is suing Criss Angel, claiming they were assaulted during a magic show in Las Vegas.

Brandon McDonald has sued magician Criss Angel (born Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos), along with several security guards and companies associated with his work and performances. The lawsuit, filed in Las Vegas, also names Criss Angel Studios, Angel Productions Worldwide, Planet Hollywood, and Caesars Entertainment as defendants, according to documents obtained by the Daily Mail.

McDonald’s filed a lawsuit on December 23, 2025, and updated it a month later on January 23, 2026. According to documents obtained by the Daily Mail, the suit seeks over $60,000 in damages following an incident that occurred on December 29, 2023.

While McDonald, a resident of Ontario, Canada, didn’t share specifics about the incident, news reports covered it when it happened.

Rumors circulated that McDonald was accused of assault, but court documents reveal he was never formally charged, and the case was dropped in January 2025.

A police report from December 29th, obtained by the Daily Mail, states that David McDonald was arrested around 11:40 p.m. for using his cell phone inside the Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood, which is against the theater’s rules.

After an officer asked McDonald to put his phone away, he became aggressive. He climbed over the seats and then physically attacked the officer, punching him in the face twice.

According to the lawsuit, one of the officers used various methods to subdue and bring McDonald to the ground. However, after being moved to the theater lobby, McDonald reportedly hit the officer again.

McDonald later told cops that he was ‘texting his dying mother’.

Police reports and available video show that McDonald was being escorted out of the theater by Angel and a security guard.

According to the report, McDonald hugged Criss, then Criss started walking back into the theater. McDonald followed this by sharply clapping his hands, seemingly trying to scare or intimidate Criss Angel.

Angel returned to the theatre while McDonald was arrested by Las Vegas police and taken to the Clark County Detention Center, where he was charged with battery.

After two years, McDonald is now suing, claiming the defendants were negligent, falsely imprisoned him, intentionally caused him emotional distress, and acted with gross negligence, recklessness, and malice.

He also filed a lawsuit against Angel, as well as three security officers – K. Silva, G. Reinert, and J. Phillips – and A. Marguez, alleging assault and battery. Additionally, he sued Planet Hollywood Resorts International, Criss Angel Studios, Angel Productions Worldwide, Caesars Entertainment, and a security company for negligence in their hiring, training, supervision, and retention of employees.

According to McDonald, battery is intentionally touching someone without their permission, while assault involves either trying to physically harm someone or making them fear immediate harm.

I was really shocked to hear about what happened to McDonald. From what I understand, he was seriously hurt in the incident – he suffered physical injuries and some pretty severe trauma, and some of those injuries might even be permanent. He’s understandably claiming it was all due to someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or recklessness, and he estimates his medical bills and other damages are going to be over $15,000. It’s just awful, and I really hope he gets the support he needs.

As a lifestyle expert, I often see unexpected medical bills and their ripple effects. In this case, my client is requesting reimbursement for medical treatment that cost over $15,000. Beyond that, he’s also seeking compensation for the financial impact this has had on his life – things like lost income, his ability to earn in the future, and even the value of tasks he can no longer do around the house. He estimates these additional damages also exceed $15,000, and we’re still calculating the full extent of those losses.

He’s also requesting at least $15,000 to cover the physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life he experienced.

He’s also requesting that the defendants pay his reasonable legal fees and court costs. Although a specific amount isn’t stated, the total damages seem to be over $60,000.

Ugh, it’s been ages since they were officially told about the lawsuit, and still nothing! I’ve been checking the court records constantly, and yes, they definitely received the complaint – I made sure of it! It’s just… frustrating that they haven’t even bothered to respond yet. Seriously, what are they waiting for?

The Daily Mail has contacted Angel and the other people named in the legal complaint for a response.

Criss Angel is a world-renowned illusionist famous for his live show, Mindfreak. It currently takes place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, after a successful ten-year run at the Luxor Hotel & Casino.

He performs his 75-minute illusion show, which features high-tech effects, from Wednesday to Sunday every week.

Angel is adding more dates to his show, “Welcome To Our Nightmare,” featuring rock icon Alice Cooper. The show will run for a limited time, from March 6th to May 23rd.

I was so surprised to hear the news, especially since it’s only been a month since he announced his breakup with Shaunyl Benson. They had a complicated relationship, going on and off for years, and I remember when they first met back in 2012. It was exciting when they actually got married in early 2015, but sadly, it didn’t last, and they divorced later that same year. It’s just a lot to process!

Angel and their partner got back together and then Angel proposed again in November 2023. They are parents to three children: 12-year-old Johnny Crisstopher, seven-year-old Xristos Yanni, and four-year-old Illusia Angelina.

After announcing their split in October, Angel shared a detailed message with his fans, revealing that someone close to him exhibited narcissistic traits.

Benson responded to recent claims in a social media video. She didn’t mention anyone specifically, but stated that someone was attempting to damage her reputation and that she had recently ended a thirteen-year relationship.

Benson and Angel publicly showed their affection at the Kennedy Center Honors on December 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C., posing for photos together and sharing a kiss.

Reached for comment, Benson recently told the Daily Mail that he is currently single and has been divorced since 2015, with no plans to remarry.

She explained that she had to be very careful and thorough when completing her divorce, ensuring everything was legally sound before moving forward with her new life.

In 2015, Johnny, the son of Angel and Benson, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was 20 months old. He achieved remission in January 2022, and Benson recently told the Daily Mail that Johnny is now doing very well and is ‘stronger than ever.’

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2026-03-10 19:36