Los Angeles, California – A former assistant to Kanye West, who now goes by the name Ye, has filed a lawsuit against the rapper for sexual harassment, breach of contract, and wrongful termination. Lauren Pisciotta alleges that West sent her lewd texts, performed sexual acts while on the phone with her, and failed to pay her a promised severance package of $3 million (£2.4 million).
Pisciotta claims in her lawsuit that she was initially hired by West to work on his Yeezy women’s fashion line and ended up collaborating on three tracks from his album “Donda.” She then became his personal assistant with an annual salary of $1 million (£780,000) under the condition that she be available “24-7.”
According to court documents, Pisciotta alleges that West initially allowed her to continue her OnlyFans business, but later demanded that she delete her account in exchange for an additional $1 million. After complying, Pisciotta claims that West bombarded her with explicit text messages and videos, as well as engaging in sexual acts in her presence.
In September 2022, Pisciotta was promoted to Chief of Staff for West’s various companies but was subsequently fired without receiving her severance package. In addition to the aforementioned allegations, Pisciotta is also suing West and his Yeezy businesses for fraud, unpaid wages, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
This is not the first time West has faced accusations of inappropriate behavior. Employees at his Yeezy fashion line previously reported that he played pornographic films during staff meetings and showed intimate photos during job interviews. West has not responded to these allegations.
The musician, once known for hits like “Gold Digger” and “Stronger,” has faced multiple legal challenges in recent years, including a lawsuit for using a sample of Donna Summer’s song without permission. Despite controversies, West has continued to find success in the music industry, recently topping the charts with his single “Carnival” and album “Vultures.”