Current:Home > NewsKanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family -TradeBridge
Kanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family
View
Date:2025-04-23 10:07:35
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! (59677)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Agreement to cancel medical debt for 193,000 needy patients in Southern states
- Trump uses a stretch of border wall and a pile of steel beams in Arizona to contrast with Democrats
- USDA efforts to solve the bird flu outbreak in cows are taking center stage in central Iowa
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Teen sues Detroit judge who detained her after falling asleep during courtroom field trip
- Sicily Yacht Tragedy: All 6 Missing Passengers Confirmed Dead as Last Body Is Recovered
- Scientists closely watching these 3 disastrous climate change scenarios
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Vermont police officer facing charge of aggravated assault during arrest
Ranking
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Feds indict 23 for using drones to drop drugs and cell phones into Georgia prisons
- 'Believe that': The Arizona Diamondbacks may be the best team in baseball
- The Latest: Kamala Harris will accept her party’s nomination on final night of DNC
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- 6-year-old hospitalized after being restrained, attacked by pit bull, police say
- Bridgerton Star Jonathan Bailey Addresses Show’s “Brilliant” Gender-Swapped Storyline
- Proof Russell Wilson Is Ready for Another Baby Eight Months After Wife Ciara Gave Birth
Recommendation
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
Emily Ratajkowski Has the Best Reaction After Stranger Tells Her to “Put on a Shirt” Mid-Video
Bears’ Douglas Coleman III immobilized, taken from field on stretcher after tackle against Chiefs
Miranda Lambert to Receive the Country Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards
B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
Yankees roast Little League coach who complained about Aaron Judge
California woman fed up with stolen mail sends Apple AirTag to herself to catch thief
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Nonsense Outro