Kanye West Allegedly Told Staffer 'Jews Control the Kardashians' in Lawsuit
A former Yeezy employee has accused Kanye West of creating a "nightmare" work environment in a bombshell new lawsuit.
In the documents, plaintiff Murphy Aficionado alleged that the 47-year-old rapper (who legally changed his name to Ye) subjected him to antisemitic rants and work meetings in hotel rooms, during which the Yeezy founder would loudly have sexual relations in an open adjoining room, per Rolling Stone .
Aficionado was hired by West in October 2022, in what he believed sounded like a dream job, as a project manager making $125 per hour. However, in addition to not being granted his promised rate, Aficionado said he worked up to 70 hours per week, and sometimes slept in the office to meet deadlines, while the rapper subjected him to "racist lectures" and angry outbursts.
"Ye's antisemitic tirades and conspiracies were a daily occurrence. Often, these outbursts involved how Jews controlled the Kardashians. Other times, Ye recounted how Jews were going after him and his money," read the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday, November 14.
According to Aficionado's lawsuit, at one point West claimed, "The Jews are out to get me." He also allegedly claimed his ex-wife Kim Kardashian had "Jewish masters," and blamed the group for freezing his bank account and taking his ex-wife and his kids.
West and Kardashian — who divorced in 2022 after being married for about 8 years — share children North, 11, Saint, 8, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 5. Kardashian, 44, recently admitted feeling like she's "basically raising four kids by myself."
Aficionado further recalled two separate incidents in which he was made to be within earshot as West allegedly had "loud sex" in the hotel room next door.
In the first alleged incident, the lawsuit claimed that a "disturbed" Aficionado "wanted nothing more than to leave" but "feared further retaliation by one of the most famous, powerful, and erratic artists in the world."
He also claimed that West was wearing a shirt with a swastika on it at the time.
Aficianado alleged that he was once again told to return for another meeting in the hotel suite that same week, and was met by West and a "famous NFL wide receiver" sporting towels when he arrived. Both of the men reportedly had sexual relations with a masseuse in the other room as "Aficionado sat uncomfortably as time slowly passed," per the lawsuit.
Aficionado's lawsuit also details working on West's K-12 private Christian school Donda Academy. The "Jesus Walks" artist reportedly wanted to move the school to a new campus in Chatsworth in February 2023, but building permits were required in order to fix up the "decrepit property" so that it would be safe for kids. West allegedly "became irate" at this news, and "yelled that he would not accept waiting [for] or using permits."
The plaintiff was fired in July 2023 after it was announced that Donda Academy would "no longer be in operation." In addition to the above anecdotes, Aficionado's lawsuit includes claims of discrimination, hostile work environment, labor code violations, failure to pay wages, and wrongful termination.
In addition to West, Yeezy and Donda Academy are named as defendants in the lawsuit — which is only the latest in a series of complaints against West . Eight other former Yeezy employees have filed suits claiming West's company did not pay them, called them "slaves," and made them watch pornography.
A former Donda Academy employee filed a lawsuit in April 2024 that accused West of wanting to install a jail so that students "could be locked in cages."
A former employee who worked with West on the first season of his Yeezy women's line, as well as three tracks on his 2021 album, Donda, also filed a lawsuit against him in June 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment.
