Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is facing a lawsuit from former employees who allege that he created a hostile work environment and failed to pay them for their work. The lawsuit, filed on June 29 in the United States District Court in California, claims that Ye and his company, Yeezy, subjected employees to harsh working conditions, bullying, and derogatory behavior during the development of a streaming app earlier this year.
The plaintiffs, eight former employees including minors, allege that they were hired to work on Ye’s YZYVSN streaming app, intended to promote his new music projects, Vultures 1 and Vultures 2. They claim that Ye and his then-chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, called them “slaves” and “new slaves,” and exposed them to pornography in group chats. The lawsuit also alleges that minors as young as 14 were involved and subjected to inappropriate content.
The developers were initially promised $120,000 as compensation upon completing the app. However, they claim they were coerced into signing non-disclosure agreements under the threat of job loss and non-payment. Despite working long hours to meet a May 1, 2024 deadline, the developers allege they were not paid and had to resort to legal action to seek their compensation.
When contacted by The Washington Post, Ye’s attorney, Brian Brumfield, did not respond. Yiannopoulos, however, denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit “a joke” and “the most dishonest thing I’ve ever seen filed with a court.”
This lawsuit is not the first time Ye has faced legal challenges from former employees. In April 2024, Benjamin Deshon Provo, a former employee of both Yeezy and Donda Academy, filed a lawsuit alleging unfair labor practices and racial discrimination. Provo claimed he was targeted by Ye because of his Muslim faith and refusal to convert to Christianity. He also alleged that Ye demanded he cut his dreadlocked hair or be fired and paid him less than his non-Black counterparts.
Another former Yeezy employee, Trevor Phillips, also filed a lawsuit in April, claiming workplace harassment. Phillips, who previously worked for Ye’s Donda Academy, alleged that Ye expressed anti-Semitic values in front of students and made derogatory comments about employees’ appearances.
The latest lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal issues Ye is facing. In June, a former Yeezy employee accused him of sexual harassment, stalking, and failing to pay millions in severance. Ye denied these allegations. In 2022, several Yeezy staffers accused Ye of showing them pornographic material and sexual content, which he has publicly admitted to being addicted to.
The lawsuit filed on June 29 claims that the hostile work environment extended to communications on platforms like Discord, where team members were bullied over their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Racial slurs were allegedly used against Black team members, and only White team members were promised developer positions at Yeezy.
The plaintiffs are seeking payment for unpaid wages, attorney fees, and damages for emotional distress. They allege that no measures were taken to prevent minors from being exposed to pornography or forced to view it as part of their work. Yiannopoulos eventually left Yeezy in May 2024 due to disagreements over the company’s plan to distribute pornographic material.
Ye’s legal troubles are compounded by accusations of anti-Semitic remarks and behavior. In recent years, multiple former employees and collaborators have reported hearing Ye praise Adolf Hitler and mention conspiracy theories about Jewish people. These allegations have led to a wave of business deals being terminated, including partnerships with Balenciaga, Adidas, and Gap.
Ryder Ripps, a conceptual artist who worked with Ye from 2014 to 2018, recalled multiple instances where Ye spoke positively about Hitler and the Nazis. Ripps, who is Jewish, initially thought Ye’s comments were not dangerous but has since changed his view, calling them “dangerous and disgusting.”
In a settlement reviewed by NBC News, Ye paid a former employee who alleged witnessing multiple incidents of Ye praising Hitler or Nazis in business meetings. Ye denied the claims in the settlement agreement. The former employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, provided proof of the payment received.
Ye’s recent string of anti-Semitic remarks has led to significant consequences, including the termination of several business partnerships. His comments have included attacks on “Jewish media” and conspiracy theories about Jewish people. Despite apologizing for the pain caused, Ye has continued to make similar remarks in subsequent interviews.
The lawsuit filed on June 29 is part of a broader pattern of allegations against Ye, including claims of creating a hostile work environment, racial discrimination, and anti-Semitic behavior. As legal challenges mount, Ye faces increasing scrutiny over his actions and statements.
Source: The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, NBC News
