class Solution:
    def removeElement(self, nums: List[int], val: int) -> int:
        if len(nums) == 0:
            return 0

        def removeHelper(nums, val, left, right):
            if left == right:
                if nums[left] == val:
                    return right
                return right + 1

            if nums[right] == val:
                return removeHelper(nums, val, left, right - 1)

            if nums[left] == val:
                nums[left], nums[right] = nums[right], nums[left]

            return removeHelper(nums, val, left + 1, right)

        return removeHelper(nums, val, 0, len(nums) - 1)