Kanye ‘Ye’ West continues to face legal problems amid his attempts to revamp his controversial image.
The rapper, who legally changed his name to Ye, recently got sued by a former employee. The new lawsuit comes weeks after another former employee emerged victorious in his wrongful termination case.
Besides getting dragged to court by former employees, Kanye ‘Ye’ West has also been having a hard time overcoming the lingering consequences of his past antisemitic stance.
Kanye West Sued By Former Security Guard For Unpaid Wages
According to new reports, a man named Jonathan Monroe is seeking nearly $1 million in damages from Ye over unpaid wages and other issues. The plaintiff explained in his filing that he worked for the rapper as a full-time security guard in 2021.
Per documents obtained by TMZ, Monroe painted a picture of a toxic work environment, accusing Ye of not paying his wages or compensating him for overtime. One instance detailed in the lawsuit alleged that Ye once asked Monroe to fill up the tank of his Lamborghini.
“When I asked for cash or use of his credit card to cover the expense, [Ye] walked away from me without a response,” Monroe lamented. He stressed that he tried to get Ye to pay what was owed before taking the matter to court; however, he was fobbed off.
The Former Employee Wants Nearly $1 Million In Damages
Monroe asked for nearly $1 million in damages, explaining that he was owed $7,725 for unpaid overtime, $37,620 in lost wages, and $500,000 in lost earnings. He also asked for $100,000 as compensation for his pain and suffering, as well as another $100,000 in punitive damages.
The new lawsuit comes weeks after Ye lost his legal battle with another former employee, Tony Saxton. The latter sued the Hip-Hop star for more than $1 million in damages, citing unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions, and wrongful termination.
Saxton explained that he was hired as a project manager to work on Ye’s former $57 million Malibu property, the infamous botched bomb shelter. The outlet reported that Saxton was allegedly fired after seven weeks and was only paid once.
The Rapper Was Banned From Entering The UK For A Performance
The case ended in Saxton’s favor, with Ye ordered to pay his former employee 140K for medical expenses and lost wages. The verdict came weeks before the entertainer faced a major setback in his career comeback earlier this month.
The Blast covered the story, reporting that Ye was banned from entering the UK to perform at London’s Wireless Festival. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed Ye would not be granted entry in a fiery statement on X.
Starmer cited Ye’s past antisemitic stance, stressing that the “government stands firmly with the Jewish community.” He noted that they would “always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values,” implying that he did not buy Ye’s changed story.
The Home Office echoed similar sentiments about Ye’s entry denial, noting that the government would not hesitate to act against people who “pose a threat to public safety or seek to spread extremism.” The ban naturally led to the festival’s cancellation.
Several Brands Did Not Want To Be Associated With The Controversial Yeezy Founder
Before Ye was banned from the UK, signs of the festival’s doom began showing when several brands distanced themselves from the event. The list included PayPal, Diageo, and Pepsi, all of which pulled out of the music festival amid news of Ye’s participation.
Although none of these brands cited Ye as the reason for their exit, it seemed even the rapper believed he was at fault. The Blast reported that Ye released a statement to clear up any misunderstandings about his changed persona.
Ye stressed that he wasn’t trying to foster division as he had done in the past, noting his visit to London was to show proof of his changes and spread love through his music. He even offered to meet the Jewish community in the UK, acknowledging the impacts of his past behavior.
Kanye West’s Presence In The UK Was Doomed From The Start
Following news of Ye’s entry ban, The Blast reported that an industry insider claimed the event was doomed from the start. They explained that Live Nation had gone the extra mile to support Ye’s comeback and had not listened to warnings.
The insider noted that concerns had been raised about Ye performing so close to the Jewish community in North London, but Live Nation wouldn’t budge. They claimed that before Ye was booked for the Wireless event, he had been turned away from other venues.
The insider argued that after Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham grounds refused to have Ye perform, Live Nation should have seen the problem. But the organizers refused to give up on having Ye perform in London until UK officials stepped in.