Criss Angel Sued by Audience Member Over Alleged Assault at Las Vegas Magic Show
Illusionist Criss Angel, whose real name is Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos, has been sued by an audience member for alleged assault and battery following an incident at one of his famous magic shows in Las Vegas. According to court documents obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, Brandon McDonald filed the lawsuit in Vegas against Angel, aged 58, and other defendants including multiple security officers, Criss Angel Studios, Angel Productions Worldwide, Planet Hollywood Resorts International, and Caesars Entertainment.
Legal Proceedings and Allegations
A complaint was initially filed on December 23, 2025, and then amended a month later on January 23, 2026. In the amended complaint, seen by the Daily Mail, McDonald sued for damages in excess of $60,000 after an altercation on December 29, 2023. McDonald, who resides in Ontario, Canada, did not provide detailed specifics about the actual altercation, but it was widely reported by various news outlets at the time.
Interestingly, the story initially indicated that McDonald was the one facing battery charges, although court records show he was not actually charged, and the case was dismissed in January 2025. According to a 2023 arrest report obtained by the Daily Mail, the incident occurred on December 29 around 11:40 p.m. when McDonald was caught using his cell phone in the Criss Angel Theater inside Planet Hollywood, which violated theater rules.
Incident Details and Police Report
The altercation took place during the Criss Angel Mindfreak Las Vegas show and involved multiple security officers who had to control McDonald after he violated theatre rules by using a cell phone during the 58-year-old's performance. McDonald then became aggressive after being told by an officer to put his phone away. He proceeded to jump over seats and began to physically attack the officer by punching him in the face with his fists two times.
One of the officers listed in McDonald's lawsuit used several techniques to restrain McDonald and bring him to the ground. However, once taken to the lobby outside the theatre, McDonald struck him for a third time. McDonald later told police that he was texting his dying mother at the time.
Partial footage of the incident, as noted in the police report, revealed that McDonald was being walked out of the theatre by Angel and a security officer. The report stated that McDonald is seen hugging Criss and then Angel began to walk away back into the theatre. McDonald then aggressively clapped his hands together as if attempting to intimidate Criss Angel. Angel walked back into the theatre, and McDonald was taken into custody by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers, transported to Clark County Detention Center, and booked for battery charges.
Lawsuit Claims and Damages Sought
Now, two years later, McDonald has sued for negligence, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, recklessness, and malicious misconduct against all defendants. Additionally, he sued for assault and battery specifically against Angel and security officers K. Silva, G. Reinert, J. Phillips, and A. Marguez. He also sued for negligent hiring, training, retention, and supervision against Planet Hollywood Resorts International, Criss Angel Studios, Angel Productions Worldwide, Caesars Entertainment, and a security company.
McDonald described the act of battery as an intentional and offensive touching of a person who has not consented to the touching, and the act of assault as either unlawfully attempting to use physical force against another person and/or intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm.
McDonald allegedly suffered personal injuries to the body and severe bodily trauma, all or some of which may be permanent and disabling in nature following the altercation, which resulted in negligence, carelessness, and/or recklessness. He estimates damages cost in excess of $15,000 for medical expenses for treatment, as well as economic damages for lost wages, diminished earning capacity, value of household services, and other undetermined damages, which he believes is an amount in excess of $15,000.
He is also seeking $15,000 or more for having endured pain, suffering, anxiety, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Furthermore, he is asking for the defendants to cover reasonable attorney's fees and costs involved with the court case. While a total amount isn't provided in the complaint, total damages appear to be in excess of $60,000.
Defendants' Response and Background Information
The defendants have yet to submit their response to the lawsuit, although public records show that they have been served the complaint. The Daily Mail has reached out to Angel and the other defendants listed on the complaint for comment.
Criss Angel, one of the world's most successful illusionists, is best known for his headlining show Criss Angel Mindfreak live, which debuted at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas in December 2018 after a previous 10-year run at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. He continues to perform the 75-minute, high-tech illusion spectacle Wednesday through Sunday each week.
In November 2025, it was announced that Angel would be extending performance dates for another one of his shows, Welcome To Our Nightmare, with legendary rock singer Alice Cooper. The limited engagement show runs from March 6 until May 23. This news came one month after he announced his split from on-again, off-again partner Shaunyl Benson, aged 34. They met in 2012 and were married in early 2015 but got divorced later that year. After rekindling their relationship, Angel re-proposed in November 2023. They are parents to Johnny Crisstopher, 12, Xristos Yanni, seven, and Illusia Angelina, four.
On announcing their separation in October, Angel wrote a long note to his fans about a person in his life who was a narcissist. Benson seemingly hit back in a video shared on social media, stating without naming names that someone is trying to defame her and revealed she had ended a 13-year relationship. On December 7, 2025, Benson and Angel posed on the red carpet together and even kissed for photographers at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C.
When reached for comment, Benson told the Daily Mail last week that she is happily single and has been divorced since 2015, never remarried. She added that she just had to change her approach in finalizing her separation and make sure that she crossed all her T's and dotted all her I's before taking that final step toward her freedom. Angel and Benson's son Johnny was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2015 at age 20 months. He went into remission in January 2022, and Benson told the Daily Mail he's now stronger than ever.
