Kanye West Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Unsafe Work Conditions
Kanye West, also known as “Ye,” is facing legal trouble as a former employee takes him to court, claiming he was subjected to unsafe working conditions and forced to sleep on the floor while renovating a property owned by the rapper.
Unpaid Wages and Unsafe Conditions
The ex-employee, Tony Saxon, is seeking $1 million in unpaid wages and lost earnings. Saxon worked as a project manager, full-time security personnel, and lived on-site in the Malibu property. According to the lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Saxon was terminated by Ye when he refused to comply with what he deemed “dangerous” demands.
Saxon’s Roles and Responsibilities
Saxon was initially hired by Ye in September 2021 as a project manager and full-time security officer for the multi-million-dollar beachfront property. His duties included overseeing construction tasks, such as cleaning, demolition, hiring contractors, and coordinating workers.
Sleeping on Makeshift Conditions
Due to the extensive renovation, Saxon claimed to have spent his employment sleeping in makeshift conditions, using his coat as bedding. Despite Saxon’s repeated complaints about his sleeping arrangements and concerns about worker safety, the conditions allegedly persisted.
Unfulfilled Payment Promises
Saxon alleged that he was promised $20,000 per week but had only received one $20,000 payment after about a month of work, along with $100,000 for construction costs.
Injury and Dismissal
In October 2021, Saxon complained of exhaustion and requested time off, but his requests were ignored. He later suffered a severe back injury while working, and his requests for time off were again dismissed. In November 2021, after Saxon refused to remove electrical equipment and windows from the property on safety grounds, Ye allegedly threatened and eventually fired him.
Legal Consequences and Concerns
Saxon’s lawyer, Ron Zambrano, stated, “Ye has shown a reckless disregard toward his employees and has flouted the law in unbelievably dangerous ways throughout this entire project at the Malibu house.”
This lawsuit is just one of several recent complaints against Ye, including allegations related to his Donda Academy Christian school in Southern California, labor law violations, unsafe conditions for students, and mismanagement. Additionally, Ye faces a lawsuit from a photographer who accused him of grabbing her phone and throwing it into the street.
Seeking Comment from Ye
Sky News has reached out to representatives of Kanye West for their response to these allegations.