Current:Home > InvestSurpassing:Kanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family -USAMarket
Surpassing:Kanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family
TradeEdge View
Date:2025-04-11 02:50:31
Kanye West is facing another legal battle.
This time,Surpassing 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! (85)
Related
- 'Most Whopper
- Why Fig.1's Micellar Cleansing Wipes Are My New Skincare Holy Grail
- 'King of scratchers' wins $5 million California Lottery prize sticking to superstition
- UK inflation falls sharply to 4.6%, lowest level in 2 years
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Texas wants the power to arrest and order migrants to leave the US. Can it do that?
- Billie Eilish on feeling 'protective' over Olivia Rodrigo: 'I was worried about her'
- Missing sailor sent heartbreaking final message to his family during Hurricane Otis, wife reveals
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Japan’s economy sinks into contraction as spending, investment decline
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- What is December's birthstone? There's more than one. Get to know the colors and symbolism
- At the UN’s top court, Venezuela vows to press ahead with referendum on future of disputed region
- Dutch court orders company to compensate 5 Iranian victims of Iraqi mustard gas attacks in the 1980s
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- German publisher to stop selling Putin books by reporter who allegedly accepted money from Russians
- Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez's engagement party was a star-studded affair in Beverly Hills
- 8 high school students in Las Vegas arrested on murder charges in fatal beating of classmate
Recommendation
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
‘A noisy rock ‘n’ roll': How growing interest in Formula One is felt across the music world
Driver charged in death of New Hampshire state trooper to change plea to guilty
New Alabama congressional district draws sprawling field as Democrats eye flip
San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
'The Crown' Season 6: Release date, cast, trailer, how to watch Part 1 of new season
Courteney Cox honors Matthew Perry with tribute to Monica and Chandler's 'Friends' love story
Dolly Parton’s new album is a detour from country music — could R&B be next?