Current:Home > InvestKanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family -TradeCircle
Kanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family
View
Date:2025-04-14 00:34:58
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! (467)
Related
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa
- US, British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen
- France’s youngest prime minister holds 1st Cabinet meeting with ambition to get ‘quick results’
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- The UK prime minister is visiting Kyiv to announce a new support package for Ukraine
- Investigators found stacked bodies and maggots at a neglected Colorado funeral home, FBI agent says
- Former Canadian political leader Ed Broadbent, a social democracy stalwart, dies at 87
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Bill Belichick coaching tree: Many ex-assistants of NFL legend landed head coaching jobs
Ranking
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Teens won't be able to see certain posts on Facebook, Instagram: What Meta's changes mean
- St. Paul makes history with all-female city council, a rarity among large US cities
- Here's what Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft said at Belichick's final Patriots press conference
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Stacked bodies and maggots discovered at neglected Colorado funeral home, FBI agent says
- Watch these humpback whales create a stunning Fibonacci spiral to capture prey
- FC Cincinnati's Aaron Boupendza facing blackmail threat over stolen video
Recommendation
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Fruit Stripe Gum farewell: Chewing gum to be discontinued after half a century
West Virginia advances bill requiring foundation distributing opioid money to hold public meetings
The Emmys are confusing this year, so here's a guide to what is and isn't eligible
'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
Michael Strahan reveals his daughter's cancer diagnosis on 'Good Morning America'
'Jellyfish', 'Chandelier' latest reported UFOs caught on video to stoke public interest
Democrat announces long-shot campaign for North Dakota’s only U.S. House seat