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Criss Angel has been sued by an audience member for alleged assault and battery following an incident that took place at one of his famous magic shows in Las Vegas.
According to court documents obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, Brandon McDonald filed a lawsuit in Vegas against Angel, 58 - real name Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos - and other defendants including multiple security officers, Criss Angel Studios, Angel Productions Worldwide, Planet Hollywood Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment.
A complaint was filed on December 23, 2025, and then amended a month later. In the amended complaint, filed January 23, 2026, seen by the Daily Mail, McDonald sued for damages in excess of $60,000, after getting into an altercation on December 29, 2023.
McDonald, who lives in Ontario, Canada, did not go into details regarding the actual altercation, but it was reported at the time by various news outlets.
The story went 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 the 2023 arrest report obtained by the Daily Mail, the incident happened on December 29, around 11:40p.m. when McDonald was caught using his cell phone in the Criss Angel Theater inside Planet Hollywood - a violation of theater rules.
Magician Criss Angel has been sued by an audience member for alleged battery and assault following an altercation that took place in 2023, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal
The altercation took place during Criss Angel Mindfreak Las Vegas show, which involved multiple security officers who had to control an audience member after he was violating the theatre rules by using a cell phone during the 58-year-old's performance
McDonald then 'became aggressive' after he was told by an officer to put his phone away. He proceeded to jump 'over seats and then 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' - but once taken to the lobby outside the theatre, McDonald 'struck him for a third time.'
McDonald later told cops that he was 'texting his dying mother'.
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.
'McDonald is seen hugging Criss and then [Criss] began to walk away back into the theatre. McDonald then aggressively claps his hands together... as if attempting to intimidate Criss Angel,' the report read.
Angel walked back into the theatre, and McDonald was taken into custody by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers where he was transported to Clark County Detention Center and booked for battery charges.
Now, two years on and McDonald has sued for negligence, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and gross negligence, recklessness and malicious misconduct against all defendants.
In addition, he sued for assault and battery specifically against Angel, [Security Officer] K. Silva, Security Officer G. Reinert, Security Officer J. Phillips, 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.
Audience member Brandon McDonald sued Angel, Planet Hollywood Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, security officers and other defendants, claiming multiple allegations
The defendants have yet to respond to the lawsuit, but court documents show that they have been served the complaint, which was initially filed in December 2025 then amended
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 of some of which may be permanent and disabling in nature' following the altercation, which resulted in 'negligence, carelessness and/or recklessness' - damages he estimates cost in excess of $15,000.
He is seeking repayment for his medical expenses for treatment that cost 'an amount in excess of $15,000' as well as the cost of economic damages for lost wages, diminished earning capacity, value of household services, and other as - yet undetermined damages - which he believes is an amount in excess of $15,000.
He is also seeking $15,000 or more for the result of having endured 'pain, suffering, anxiety, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life'.
Further, 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.
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.
Angel, who is 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.
Angel and his partner Shaunyl Benson announced their separation in October 2025
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.
The news came one month after he announced his split from on-again, off-again partner Shaunyl Benson, 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 parents to Johnny Crisstopher, 12, Xristos Yanni, seven, and Illusia Angelina, four.
On announcing their separation in October, Angel, for his part, 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. Without naming names, she said '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: 'I can say that I am happily single and I've been divorced since 2015. I never remarried.'
She added: 'I just had to change my approach in finalizing my separation and make sure that I crossed all my T's and dotted all my I's before taking that final step toward my 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. Benson told the Daily Mail he's now 'stronger than ever.'
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