Los Angeles, California – Kanye West faces a lawsuit from former employees accusing him and former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, of creating a racist work environment and making employees work long hours. The lawsuit stems from developers hired to work on West’s YZYVSN streaming service app, intended to promote his new albums, “Vultures” and “Vultures 2.” The developers were promised $120,000 upon completing the app but were later coerced into signing nondisclosure agreements under the threat of job loss and no pay.
The employees, some of whom were minors, were reportedly required to sign “volunteer” agreements, indicating they would not be compensated for their work. Despite working remotely and communicating through Slack and other tools, the developers were unable to reach West or Yiannopoulos for payment when the app was completed by the May 1, 2024 deadline. This lack of response led to the filing of a lawsuit seeking unpaid wages, compensation for overtime, and damages for emotional distress.
Allegations in the lawsuit include claims of racist remarks and derogatory terms used against employees, such as being called “slaves” and “new slaves.” West’s wife, Bianca Censori, allegedly sent explicit material to a worker for the development of West’s porn app, adding another layer of controversy to the lawsuit. The legal action comes shortly after Yiannopoulos resigned from Yeezy due to West’s involvement in a porn studio project.
As of now, West has not publicly addressed the lawsuit, and there has been no response from his representatives when contacted for a statement. The legal battle sheds light on the complexities of working conditions and treatment of employees in the entertainment industry, raising questions about accountability and fair practices in the workplace. The outcome of this lawsuit could have implications for how high-profile figures manage their business affairs and relationships with staff in the future.