Kanye West, the outspoken rapper and fashion mogul, is facing a new lawsuit from a group of former Yeezy employees who accuse him and his company of fostering a hostile work environment rife with racist and degrading language, unpaid wages, and potential violations of child labor laws. This lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal troubles for West, further tarnishing his public image.
YeezyVSN App Development and Unfulfilled Promises
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, centers around the development of the YZYVSN streaming service app. West allegedly hired a team of developers to create this platform, aiming to compete with established streaming services like Tidal and Apple Music. The app was intended to promote West’s musical project, “Vultures,” with Ty Dolla $ign.
The lawsuit contends that West’s primary motivation for the app was to avoid paying promotional fees to other streaming services.
A Dream Project Turns Sour: Staff Allege Bullying and Racism
Eight developers began working on the YZYVSN project for Yeezy in March 2024. However, their initial excitement about collaborating with a musical icon quickly dissipated. According to the lawsuit, the work environment turned hostile, with West and Yiannopoulos, his former chief of staff, allegedly subjecting staff to racist and degrading language.
The lawsuit also makes disturbing allegations about Bianca Censori, West’s wife, who was reportedly involved in a separate project called “Yeezy Porn.” She is accused of sending a file-sharing link containing pornography to a group chat that included a minor working on the YZYVSN app.
The lawsuit states that “no safeguards” were implemented to prevent underage workers from being exposed to or forced to view pornography as part of their job duties.
“Slaves” and Non-Disclosure Agreements: Controlling the Narrative
The lawsuit paints a picture of a poorly managed and exploitative work environment. The remote team of international Yeezy staffers, who communicated through platforms like Discord, Zoom, and Slack, were allegedly subjected to frequent and vicious bullying based on their characteristics, including race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.
The lawsuit details instances where some team members were referred to as “slaves” and “new slaves,” a chilling echo of the title from West’s 2013 album, Yeezus.
Adding to the alleged mistreatment, the team was reportedly pressured to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) early in the development process. Refusal to sign these agreements allegedly resulted in threats of termination without pay.
The lawsuit raises concerns about potential violations of child labor laws, as some of the Yeezy employees were reportedly minors. These workers were allegedly forced to sign on as “volunteers” to avoid legal ramifications, effectively working for free.
Unpaid Wages and Emotional Distress: Seeking Justice
The lawsuit filed by the former Yeezy staffers seeks compensation for unpaid wages, attorney fees, and damages for emotional distress. They allege violations of multiple labor laws, including the Alien Tort Statute, Fair Labor Standards Act, and California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
The specific legal claims include:
- Forced labor
- Cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment
- Failure to pay wages and overtime
- Racial and ethnic discrimination
Public Denials and Escalating Legal Battles
While West’s attorney, Brian Brumfield, has not yet responded to requests for comment, Yiannopoulos has taken to social media to dismiss the lawsuit as the retaliation of a disgruntled employee.
This lawsuit is just one of several legal challenges West is currently facing. He is also involved in a sexual harassment lawsuit from a former employee and a copyright infringement case with Diana Ross. Additionally, Rolling Stone published a report in 2022 detailing accusations of pornography use and misconduct within the Yeezy workplace.
West has publicly acknowledged his struggles with pornography addiction and its negative impact on his life.
A Shadow Over Yeezy: Looking Ahead
The Yeezy brand and Kanye West’s public image are likely to be tarnished by these ongoing legal battles. The specific details and validity of the claims will be determined in court. However, the accusations raise serious concerns about the treatment of employees within Yeezy and highlight the potential exploitation of young workers in the tech industry.
