Current:Home > MarketsKanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family -BrightPath Capital
Kanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family
View
Date:2025-04-19 16:00:51
Kanye West is facing another legal battle.
This time, from an alleged former employee who is accusing the rap artist of tasking him with launching an inquiry of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian's family.
In a retaliation lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles court Oct. 10 and obtained by E! News, the plaintiff—identified as John Joe—states that while working as the rapper's "director of intelligence," his duties included "investigating the Kardashian family and supposed various criminal links Ye believed they had with criminal enterprises, including alleged sex trafficking."
E! News has reached out for comment from reps for Kanye and the Kardashian-Jenner family and has not heard back.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff, who is identified as John Doe, states that the rap artist hired him in late 2022 and that he was made to conduct investigations, "including those involving attorneys and parties that have filed suit" against Kanye.
"Doe" alleges that in addition to being tasked to investigate the Kardashian-Jenners, the music producer also had him "hire private investigators to follow and 'tail' his current wife, Bianca Censori, when she was travelling alone to visit family in Australia, without Ms. Censori’s knowledge."
Kanye has been married to Bianca since December 2022. The two wed less than two months after he finalized his divorce from Kim, with whom he shares kids North West, 11, Saint West, 8, Chicago West, 6, and Psalm West, 5.
"Doe" also alleges in his lawsuit that this past May, he received a call from an employee of Donda Academy—a private school Kanye founded in 2021 and which closed in June, according to public records—informing him that "abuse of children had occurred at Donda and that supposedly nothing was done to correct or report the problem."
The man said he "immediately informed the remaining Yeezy leadership of the report about the Donda student(s)," and that later that day, Kanye himself called him "to yell, curse and threaten" him with "great bodily injury, including death," if he repeated the information.
"Doe" alleges that the rapper told him, "You’re f--king dead to me!" and also played a "recording of scary voices that were threatening to harm" him. He added that in the next few days and weeks, he also received threats from Kanye's associates.
"Doe" states in his lawsuit that as a result of his "lawful reports of violations of law" and "his refusal to engage in unethical activities," Kanye retaliated against him "through a campaign of threats, intimidation, and harassment," which caused him "severe emotional distress and exacerbated his PTSD" that he suffers from as a military veteran, "resulting in both emotional and financial harm."
The plaintiff adds that he is still owed wages for work done on Kanye's behalf. He is seeking punitive and other damages relating to loss of earnings and a jury trial.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (847)
Related
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Evers in State of the State address vows to veto any bill that would limit access to abortions
- It's Apple Macintosh's 40th birthday: How the historic computer compares with tech today
- Ring will no longer allow police to request doorbell camera footage from users
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Texas man says facial recognition led to his false arrest, imprisonment, rape in jail
- eBay layoffs 2024: E-commerce giant eliminating around 1,000 jobs, 9% of workforce
- Olympian Maricet Espinosa González Dead at 34
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Families of those killed in the 2002 Bali bombings testify at hearing for Guantanamo detainees
Ranking
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- 5 members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team to face sexual assault charges, report says
- Hailey Bieber Launches Rhode Cleanser and It's Sunshine in a Bottle
- More than 1 in 4 U.S. adults identify as religious nones, new data shows. Here's what this means.
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Dex Carvey, son of Dana Carvey, cause of death at age 32 revealed
- Claudia Schiffer's cat Chip is purr-fection at the 'Argylle' premiere in London
- Iran disqualifies former moderate president from running for reelection to influential assembly
Recommendation
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Ring drops feature that allowed police to request your doorbell video footage
Jason Kelce's shirtless antics steal show in Buffalo: 'Tay said she absolutely loved you'
Florida House passes a bill to ban social media accounts for children under 16
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
Advocates Celebrate a Legal Win Against US Navy’s Staggering Pollution in the Potomac River. A Lack of Effective Regulation Could Dampen the Spirit
Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's NATO membership, lifting key hurdle to entry into military alliance
Elle King reschedules show after backlash to 'hammered' Dolly Parton tribute performance