What happened to Kurt Zouma? Video leaked of West Ham footballer kicking cat

Kurt Zouma was taken to court after leaked video of him punching and kicking his cat in February.

The West Ham footballer faced a slew of backlash after the video went viral on social media, with the RSPCA removing his cats from his home before opening a full investigation into the incident.

The Frenchman was booed and chanted by both West Ham and Watford supporters in his first game since the video leaked after being surprisingly made available for the clash.

Zouma apologized after video of him kicking and hitting his pet cat was released, claiming the abuse seen in the video was a “single incident” but has since appeared before Thames Magistrates’ Court and has pleaded guilty to the charges.

That’s all you need to know.

In a video received from The sunthe 27-year-old footballer can be seen in his kitchen picking up a cat before dropping it and kicking it in the air across the room.

He can also be seen chasing the cat across the dining room while the cameraman, believed to be his brother, hears Yoan laugh.

Zouma is then filmed throwing the cat a pair of shoes as it tries to run away, with the final clip showing him punching the cat in the face and out of a child’s arms.

According to The Sun, a source said Zouma was angry at the cat for making a mess at his home.

They said: “It seemed Kurt got mad at the cat for accidentally smashing some sort of vase and pulling down a light fixture from the kitchen cabinet.

“But what he does next is totally unacceptable. Kurt kicks it, throws him shoes and then hits him. The poor cat looked so scared.”

After the video was released, Zouma apologized for his treatment of the cat.

He said: “I would like to apologize for my actions. There is no excuse for my behavior, which I sincerely regret.

“I also want to say how sorry I am to anyone who was upset by the video. I want to assure everyone that our two cats are doing great and healthy.

“You are loved and valued by our entire family and this behavior was an isolated case that will not happen again.”

West Ham United, for whom Zouma plays after he was signed from Chelsea for £29.8million in the summer, also issued a statement “condemning” his actions.

The club said: “West Ham United unreservedly condemn the actions of Kurt Zouma in the video that has been circulated.

“We have spoken to Kurt and will be looking into the matter internally, but want to make it clear that we do not condone animal cruelty in any way.”

Zouma has been fined two weeks by West Ham, with the money – thought to be around £250,000 – being donated to animal welfare charities.

The Frenchman has made 18 appearances for West Ham since the incident.

On March 16, 2022, the RSPCA announced that it had begun criminal charges against Kurt Zouma and his brother Yoan under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, following a full investigation.

Zouma has been charged with animal cruelty and appeared in court on Tuesday (May 24, 2022).

Defense attorneys pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act Tuesday morning.

Zouma is a French professional footballer who plays as a central defender for West Ham United and the France national team.

He signed his first professional football contract in April 2011 when he joined Saint-Étienne, initially agreeing to a three-year deal.

Zouma made his professional debut in a Coupe de la Ligue game against Bordeaux later that year.

In 2014, Zouma joined Chelsea on a five-and-a-half-year deal for a transfer fee estimated at around £12million. On 28 August 2021 he signed an initial four-year contract from Chelsea for West Ham United.

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