US hip-hop star Kanye West had to abandon a signing appearance in Fresno, California, after a fight between a fan and a security guard on Saturday.
The Grammy Award-winner was taken out of the back door of the new FTK "urban boutique" as owners cancelled its opening and locked the doors.
Authorities spent almost 30 minutes clearing around 1,000 fans from the store's parking area.
"Security couldn't control it [so] we had to shut it down," an employee said.
The artist, who won three prizes at the Grammys in February, had been signing autographs for 40 minutes when the fracas erupted.
"Everybody's chance to meet Kanye West was ruined," said one fan who had been waiting in line.
But store owners said an after-party with the producer-rapper took place as planned.
West rose to prominence by producing songs for artists such as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. He then emerged to become a rapper as well as a producer.
His solo career almost ended before it began after a near-fatal car crash left him with his jaw wired shut in 2002.
But West used the experience as the basis for the song Through the Wire, which became his first UK hit in April 2004.
The Grammy Award-winner was taken out of the back door of the new FTK "urban boutique" as owners cancelled its opening and locked the doors.
Authorities spent almost 30 minutes clearing around 1,000 fans from the store's parking area.
"Security couldn't control it [so] we had to shut it down," an employee said.
The artist, who won three prizes at the Grammys in February, had been signing autographs for 40 minutes when the fracas erupted.
"Everybody's chance to meet Kanye West was ruined," said one fan who had been waiting in line.
But store owners said an after-party with the producer-rapper took place as planned.
West rose to prominence by producing songs for artists such as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. He then emerged to become a rapper as well as a producer.
His solo career almost ended before it began after a near-fatal car crash left him with his jaw wired shut in 2002.
But West used the experience as the basis for the song Through the Wire, which became his first UK hit in April 2004.
