Current:Home > reviewsYe accused of drugging, sexually assaulting ex-assistant at Diddy session -TradeCircle
Ye accused of drugging, sexually assaulting ex-assistant at Diddy session
Rekubit View
Date:2025-04-09 00:08:29
Ye is facing new allegations from his former assistant, who claims he drugged and sexually assaulted her.
In an amended complaint filed in California and obtained by USA TODAY, Kanye West's former assistant Lauren Pisciotta alleged the rapper "touched, groped, fondled, grabbed and forced himself in and on" her on multiple occasions without her consent. The latest filing came after Pisciotta previously sued Ye for sexual harassment, wrongful termination and breach of contract earlier this year.
USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Ye for comment.
In a statement provided to Rolling Stone in June, a legal representative for the rapper accused Pisciotta of "blackmail and extortion" and claimed she was "terminated for being unqualified, demanding unreasonable sums of money (including a $4 million annual salary) and numerous documented incidents of her lascivious, unhinged conduct," adding that Pisciotta "consistently used sexual coercion in an attempt to demand not only money but material items."
In the filing, Pisciotta detailed one incident of alleged sexual assault she said occurred before she started working for Ye, when the rapper invited her to attend a studio session he co-hosted with Sean "Diddy" Combs. The complaint alleged Pisciotta was served with a drink laced with an unidentified drug, which caused her to slip into a "heavily impaired state." Pisciotta said she woke up the next day with no memory of what happened.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
New Kanye West lawsuit:Ye accused of 'spreading antisemitism' at Donda Academy
According to the complaint, Pisciotta initially had "no reason to believe she was touched inappropriately or sexually assaulted," and she did not suspect that Ye had drugged her. However, she alleged that years later, Ye mentioned to her that they "hooked up" that evening, leading her to realize she was "in fact drugged and sexually assaulted" by him.
"She could not stomach the fact that she worked for the man who had sexually assaulted her against her will while she was drugged, who then successfully lured her back into his orbit by way of a job opportunity to sexually assault her all over again," the complaint said, adding that Pisciotta feared Ye would retaliate against her if she spoke up.
Ye sued by former employee:John Doe says he was asked to investigate Kim Kardashian, 'tail' Bianca Censori
In another incident alleged to have occurred during a work trip in July 2021, Pisciotta claimed Ye forced his way into her hotel room, saying he needed to use her shower because his wasn't working. Once inside, the rapper allegedly approached Pisciotta, dropped his towel, and "aggressively moved and pushed (Pisciotta) from the chair she was sitting in over to the bed and pushed her down." He then "attempted to forcefully thrust his naked body onto and penis into (Pisciotta's) face" while she pleaded with him to stop, the complaint alleged.
"(Pisciotta) was very clearly unwilling, non-consenting and visually upset at Kanye West a.k.a Ye for the battery, gender violence and sexual assault," the lawsuit said.
Pisciotta also accused Ye of subjecting her to "constant" sexual harassment throughout her employment, despite her making clear she was not interested in him, and provided numerous sexually explicit text messages allegedly sent by the rapper as evidence. Being forced to dodge his "unwanted sexual advances, sexual assault, continuous sexual harassment," and the revelation that Ye allegedly "sexually assaulted her while she was drugged" led Pisciotta to suffer from "severe anxiety, depression and overwhelming PTSD," the lawsuit said. Pisciotta alleged Ye wrongfully terminated her in 2022 in "retaliation for her complaints and refusal to have sex with" him.
This was the latest legal issue for Ye, who last week faced a lawsuit from a former employee who accused him of infliction of emotional distress, labor code violations and retaliation. That lawsuit claimed the former employee was asked to investigate Ye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian and hire private investigators to spy on his spouse Bianca Censori. It additionally alleged that Ye threatened to kill the former employee, identified as John Doe.
"Our client is so fearful of Ye and his erratic, disturbing and unpredictable behavior that he wishes to remain anonymous for his own safety," Doe's attorneys said. "It's not only illegal but unconscionable that an employer would threaten any employee with bodily harm or death."
Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
veryGood! (28684)
Related
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- A strong earthquake shakes Taiwan, damaging buildings and causing a small tsunami
- LSU settles lawsuit with 10 women over mishandled sexual assault cases involving athletes
- Democrats eye Florida’s abortion vote as chance to flip the state. History says it’ll be a challenge
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- 'Oppenheimer' premieres in Japan: Here's how Hiroshima survivors, Japanese residents reacted
- Firefighters rescue 2 people trapped under Ohio bridge by fast-rising river waters
- SUV rams into front gate at FBI Atlanta headquarters, suspect in custody
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Face First
Ranking
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- In 'Ripley' on Netflix, Andrew Scott gives 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' a sinister makeover
- Former Red Sox, Padres, Orioles team president Larry Lucchino dies at 78
- Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Oprah and More Celebs Who’ve Reached the Billionaire Milestone
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- AP Was There: A 1974 tornado in Xenia, Ohio, kills 32 and levels half the city
- Biden speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in first call since November meeting
- Tribes blast South Dakota governor’s claim that leaders are benefitting from drug cartels
Recommendation
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Officer acquitted in 2020 death of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma is hired by neighboring sheriff’s office
Here's how much Americans say they need to retire — and it's 53% higher than four years ago
Autism in young girls is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. A doctor explains why.
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Get $40 Off Bio Ionic Curling Irons, 56% Off Barefoot Cardigans, 50% Off DreamCloud Mattresses & More
Travis Kelce Shares Biggest Lesson He's Learned from Taylor Swift
NBA legend Magic Johnson, star Taylor Swift among newest billionaires on Forbes' list