Kanye West steps in to break up paparazzi fight

Kanye West played peacemaker as he stepped in to break up an apparent fight between two photographers outside Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday (19Feb16).

The incident came three years after he was charged with assaulting a paparazzo at the same airport.

On Friday, 38-year-old rapper Kanye was signing autographs for hordes of fans who had gathered outside the terminal on Friday (19Feb16) when he saw the two men involved in what appeared to be a physical altercation.

In a video obtained by TMZ.com, Kanye can be heard telling the photographer "Woah man, woah man" as he grabs him around the middle in an attempt to defuse the situation. Once the incident has been resolved, Kanye is seen smiling to the cameras and resuming signing for his fans.

Helping paparazzi is a change for the musician-turned-fashion designer, who was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery and attempted grand theft after he assaulted photographer Daniel Ramos at LAX and took his camera in July 2013.

Kanye faced up to a year in prison, but submitted a no contest plea and was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to serve 250 hours of community service, attend anger management classes and told to pay Ramos for the camera that he damaged in the assault.

Ramos sued the rapper for assault, battery, negligence and interference with his civil rights, and the pair settled the case in April 2015.

Despite his peacemaking, the subject of Kanye's finances were brought up as the rapper arrived at the airport on Friday. One TMZ.com photographer asked Kanye about his plea to Facebook.com billionaire Mark Zuckerberg for financial help, after the rapper revealed on Twitter.com that he was $53 million in debt.

"I think he might end up helping out," he says in reply.

However, just in case Mark doesn't step in to help, Kanye's fans have rallied around to aid their idol.

Fan Jeremy Piatt has started a GoFundMe account for the Gold Digger hitmaker, according to TMZ.com. The fund, which stood at $7,165 on Saturday (20Feb16), was created by Jeremy because "great artists need to be supported financially to achieve their full potential."

Sources revealed though that Kanye has vowed not touch a penny of the money raised for him by fans, with Jeremy then pledging to give back the money to those who have donated if the rapper will not accept their help.