In a significant legal development, rapper Kanye West, known as Ye, faces a lawsuit from his former assistant Lauren Pisciotta. Pisciotta’s suit alleges sexual harassment, breach of contract, and wrongful termination. Additionally, she is suing West’s company, Yeezy, for fraud and unpaid wages, while also accusing the rapper of causing her emotional distress.
Pisciotta worked closely with West on his Yeezy women’s clothing line and his 2021 album, Donda. Employed in 2021 with an impressive annual salary of one million dollars, she was expected to be available to the West at all times.
The lawsuit reveals that although Kanye initially had no objections to Pisciotta earning money through OnlyFans and social media, he later demanded to be treated “God-like” and urged her to delete her account. He promised an extra $1 million if she complied. Despite agreeing to his demands, Pisciotta claims the rapper began sexually harassing her.
One particularly disturbing incident in the lawsuit recounts a flight to Paris. Pisciotta alleges that West “trapped” her in his room on the plane, closing the door in a way that it could not be opened from the inside. While she sat on a chair, West, lying on his bed, allegedly began playing with himself under the covers before falling asleep.
In her legal complaint, Pisciotta also mentioned that she was promoted to chief of staff for West’s various companies in September 2022. She was promised a $3 million bonus but was later fired with the offer of a $3 million severance package, which she claims she never received.
West’s legal team responded to the lawsuit, asserting that he plans to file a counter suit against Pisciotta. They claim she “actively pursued him sexually to pressure employment and other material benefits, then engaged in blackmail and extortion when her advances were rejected.” The statement also accuses Pisciotta of stealing West’s cell phone to destroy records that would contradict her claims, asserting that all relevant records have been preserved.
This legal battle is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the rapper, adding another chapter to his tumultuous public and professional life.
