Kanye West Slams Ex-Employee For 'Frivolous' Mechanics Lien Against His Sold 'Bomb Shelter'

Kanye 'Ye' West is in another legal brawl with another former staff.

The rapper is taking legal action against his former employee, Tony Saxon, for placing a claim of unpaid debt against his now-sold Malibu property. The lien reportedly delayed the sale execution of the mansion.

Kanye 'Ye' West sold off the intended "bomb shelter" home last September after reportedly getting bored of renovating the property into his dream edifice.

The designer recently expressed frustration towards his former employee, Saxon, who placed a $1.8 million lien against Ye's former Malibu mansion. This action, according to Ye, caused complications during the sale of the property last year.

In a court petition filed on May 1, Ye detailed that Saxon filed the lien on January 10, 2024. It was tendered to purportedly secure compensation for project management and construction services he reportedly provided at the home.

The rapper had purchased the four-bedroom mansion for $57.3 million in 2021 and sold it for $21 million in September 2024 after significant renovations.

To facilitate the sale and clear the title, Ye obtained a Mechanics Lien Release Bond worth $2.2 million from an insurance company. However, he alleges that despite the bond, Saxon has yet to release his lien.

The musician's legal team tagged the lien "frivolous" and "unenforceable," contending that it was filed in "bad faith" since Saxon was not a licensed contractor. In Touch gathered that Ye's attorneys are demanding the immediate removal of the lien and the return of the $2.2 million bond.

In September 2023, Saxon slammed the designer with a lawsuit filled with claims of alleged discrimination and retaliation during his employment. 

Saxon worked as a security guard for Ye's Malibu home from September to November 2021, and he alleged that he was expected to be on duty around the clock.

According to Saxon, he had to sleep on the floor of the property due to the lack of beds available. He was promised a weekly salary of $20,000 by the rapper.

However, things took a wrong turn as he claimed he was terminated after refusing to perform tasks that he considered dangerous upon Ye's request. 

In the lawsuit, Saxon recounted a confrontational exchange where Ye warned him that if he did not comply with his demands, he would be dismissed and no longer be considered a friend. The lawsuit read:

"When [Tony] refused to engage in unlawful conduct or to engage in activity that would further cause him physical injury, Mr. Ye responded: 'If you don't do what I say, you're not going to work for me, I'm not gonna be your friend anymore and you'll just see me on TV.' To which [Tony] replied, 'I don't watch TV.' Mr. Ye ended the exchange with 'Leave.'"

Ye firmly denied any allegations of wrongdoing in Saxon's initial legal case. At the time, his former attorney contended that even if Saxon experienced damages, they were caused by factors beyond Ye's control. In the lawyer's words:

"Without admitting that any damages were suffered by [Tony] if damages were suffered by [Tony] as alleged in the complaint, those damages were proximately caused by and contributed to by persons and entities other than [Ye]."

The attorney emphasized that any liability attributed to Ye should be adjusted based on the relative fault of all parties involved. The legal proceedings have faced various delays, particularly after Ye was without representation for a time due to his former lawyer discontinuing their services.

He has since engaged a new attorney, Eduardo Martorell. Additionally, Ye's wife, Bianca Censori, has recently become involved in the case as a potential witness.

Last year, Ye finally parted ways with his partially renovated Malibu mansion, often referred to as a "bomb shelter" project, after multiple price reductions. 

The Blast shared that the rapper initially listed the property for $53 million but encountered issues during renovations that led to a lawsuit and deterioration of the estate. 

Ultimately, he sold the abandoned home to Belwood Investments, a California-based real estate crowdfunding firm, for $21 million. 

The sale price represented a significant markdown, reflecting a loss of $32 million from the original asking price. The buyer, and Belwood's CEO, Bo Belmont, indicated plans to invest an additional $5 million into the property. 

Thiswas earmarked to remedy the damages caused during Ye's renovations and restore the mansion to its original design by architect Tadao Ando. 

The rapper got double for his troubles shortly after the ink dried on the sales paper for his abandoned Malibu project. The Blast reported last October that the rapper invested in a luxurious mansion in Beverly Park North, a gated community in Beverly Hills. 

Over the years, the celebrity-studded community has been home to notable figures such as Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Eddie Murphy, and Justin Bieber.

He purchased the stunning property for $35 million, which spans nearly seven acres and includes 11 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms. The expansive 20,000-square-foot home features an entertainment pavilion linked to the main house, as well as a resort-style pool area.

The pool section is adorned with cascading waterfalls, a pool house, a gazebo, and a paddle tennis court. This off-market transaction was made under the same LLC used for his Malibu sale last September.

Will Kanye 'Ye' West's petition be granted?