An ex-employee of Kanye West, now known as Ye, has filed a lawsuit against the rapper, claiming he was ordered to investigate Ye’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian and spy on his current spouse, Bianca Censori.
The plaintiff, identified as John Doe, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday. He is suing West and his company, Yeezy, LLC, for emotional distress, various labor code violations, and retaliation, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Doe, a military veteran who reportedly suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alleges in the 22-page complaint that West’s actions severely affected his mental health. “The stress and trauma caused by the threats, hostile work environment, and exposure to illegal and unethical activities severely impacted his mental and emotional well-being,” the lawsuit states. Doe claims he suffered panic attacks, anxiety, and severe emotional distress, which led him to seek medical treatment and admission to a facility to address his declining mental health.
Originally hired as a campaign director and later as a director of intelligence for Ye’s 2024 presidential campaign, Doe alleges he was tasked with investigating Kardashian’s family, Censori’s travels, and individuals who had previously sued West.
The lawsuit claims that West, who was married to Kardashian from 2014 to 2022, requested an investigation into her family, alleging they were involved in “criminal enterprises,” including sex trafficking. Additionally, the ex-employee claims that West ordered him to hire private investigators to follow Censori, without her knowledge, while she visited family in Australia.
Doe also accuses West of failing to pay him for work completed on behalf of both West and Yeezy. The plaintiff alleges he was hired as a travel nanny for two Yeezy associates, identified as Stanfield and Trice in the lawsuit, agreeing to provide “24-hour supervision” for their infant child in exchange for $500 per day. However, Doe claims he was not paid for several pay periods.
“Defendants have knowingly and willfully refused to compensate [Doe] for all wages earned and all hours worked, at the required minimum wage,” the lawsuit states. “As a direct result, [Doe] has suffered and continues to suffer substantial losses related to the use and enjoyment of such compensation.”
Doe also claims he was not provided with accurate wage statements documenting his work for West and his company.
Tensions escalated earlier this year when Doe reported an alleged incident of child abuse at West’s private school, Donda Academy. After informing Yeezy leadership of the abuse claims, Doe alleges he received a threatening phone call from West, during which the rapper threatened to kill him. Additional threats from West’s associates reportedly followed the incident.
“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 in a statement. “It’s not only illegal but unconscionable that an employer would threaten any employee with bodily harm or death.”
John Doe is seeking unspecified damages for unpaid wages, lost earnings, and other expenses. He is also requesting a trial by jury, with the case set to be heard on December 19, 2024.
