Current:Home > ScamsKanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family -MoneyStream
Kanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family
Robert Brown View
Date:2025-04-10 00:25:32
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! (98221)
Related
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Heat waves in Europe killed more than 61,600 people last summer, a study estimates
- Our fireworks show
- The EV Battery Boom Is Here, With Manufacturers Investing Billions in Midwest Factories
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- More renters facing eviction have a right to a lawyer. Finding one can be hard
- Tom Holland Recalls Being Enslaved to Alcohol Before Sobriety Journey
- The marketing whiz behind chia pets and their iconic commercials has died
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Boats, bikes and the Beigies
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- This electric flying taxi has been approved for takeoff — sort of
- Lawyers Press International Court to Investigate a ‘Network’ Committing Crimes Against Humanity in Brazil’s Amazon
- Amazon Prime Day 2023: Save 35% on Crest Professional Effects White Strips With 59,600+ 5-Star Reviews
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- The artists shaking up the industry at the Latin Alternative Music Conference
- How fast can the auto industry go electric? Debate rages as the U.S. sets new rules
- Tom Holland Recalls Being Enslaved to Alcohol Before Sobriety Journey
Recommendation
Trump's 'stop
Protesters Rally at Gas Summit in Louisiana, Where Industry Eyes a Fossil Fuel Buildout
Twitter vs. Threads, and why influencers could be the ultimate winners
'Wait Wait' for July 22, 2023: Live in Portland with Damian Lillard!
Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
Biden Administration Quietly Approves Huge Oil Export Project Despite Climate Rhetoric
It's a journey to the center of the rare earths discovered in Sweden
This electric flying taxi has been approved for takeoff — sort of