Kanye West is facing legal action from eight ex-employees who have accused him of fostering a hostile work environment, not paying wages, and engaging in discriminatory practices. The lawsuit, filed in a California court, also names West’s Yeezy brand and former head of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, as defendants.
The plaintiffs, aged 14 to 25 and hailing from various countries, allege they endured long working hours without pay and were subjected to harassment. They claim that the company’s Discord channel used derogatory terms, referring to them as “slaves” and “new slaves.” Additionally, the suit alleges that app developers on the team experienced bullying based on their race, gender, age, and sexual orientation, creating a hostile work environment.
Kanye West has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits regarding his school, the Donda Academy. In April 2023, Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers filed a suit alleging that the school failed to address their health and safety concerns.
Us Weekly has reached out to West’s team for a response.
The former employees also allege that they were exposed to pornographic images in the workplace due to West’s pursuit of an adult film venture, Yeezy Porn. The lawsuit includes accusations against West’s wife, Bianca Censori, claiming that she sent a YZYVSN worker a link to hardcore pornography for the app. Censori has vehemently denied these allegations.
The suit further asserts that no measures were implemented to prevent underage YZYVSN workers from accessing or being exposed to pornographic content. The plaintiffs claim that West and Yiannopoulos promised payment upon completion of the app, but none of them received their wages.
Yiannopoulos dismissed the lawsuit as a “joke” filed by a “disgruntled” ex-employee who didn’t get a full-time Yeezy job. The plaintiffs are seeking unpaid wages, attorney fees, and damages for emotional distress.
Kanye West has faced significant backlash and repercussions for his antisemitic comments, including being dropped by major brands. His tweet declaring “death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE” sparked widespread condemnation.
Kanye West sparked controversy during Paris Fashion Week by wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt. This incident, along with his criticism of a Vogue editor and an antisemitic message posted on social media, led to temporary restrictions on his accounts.
This lawsuit comes on the heels of another legal battle involving West. In a separate case, his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, has accused him of sexual harassment, fostering a hostile work environment, and wrongful termination.
Additionally, West has been facing multiple lawsuits regarding his school, the Donda Academy, dating back to April 2023. Teachers at the academy have alleged health and safety violations, which they claim West has neglected to address. In response, West’s attorney, Gregory Suhr, denied the claims and requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that the allegations were false and detrimental to the school’s reputation.
