Music

Kanye West Sued by Former Employees Who Claim They Were Called ‘New Slaves,’ Emailed Porn From Bianca Censori

The employees were reportedly hired to develop Yeezy's own streaming app, YZYVSN.

Kanye West wearing a white hoodie, standing near a glass door with a sign that reads "SPORTS ACADEMY."
Bellocqimages / GC Images

Kanye West has found himself in legal trouble again.

TMZ reports that Ye and his former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos have been named as defendants in a new lawsuit. Filed by former employees, the lawsuit accuses them of engaging in “forced labor and cruel inhuman, or degrading treatment” while the employees were tasked with creating a music streaming app for West.

The staff alleges that Kanye and Yiannopoulos created a racist work environment, and that they—including employees who are minors—were exposed to porn created by Bianca Censori.

Staff also claims that Yeezy and Yiannopoulos promised to pay them, made them work long hours, and berated them with racist remarks. The staff was hired to create the streaming app, YZYVSN.

In Spring 2024, the pair allegedly employed a developer group encompassing international hires, Black people, and minors as young as 14 years old. In April, Yiannopoulos said the group would be paid $120,000 if they finished the app and didn’t complain about the grueling workload and hours. Ye obligated them to sign NDAs, while his management allegedly hurled racial epithets at some of the staff like “new slaves.”

In late April, Ye announced the launch of his adult film business, Yeezy Porn, which is when Censori allegedly sent a worker adult content, which was seen by minors. In May, the staff reportedly finished the app, though it’s unclear which one. The employees allege they were never paid.

Yiannopoulos has since issued a statement via his publicist.

"I’ve been authorized by Bianca to stress that any allegation that she showed or caused to be shown any pornographic material to minors is offensive, disgusting, abhorrent and categorically and wholly false," the release reads. "The tragic, desperate, attention-seeking wannabe Yeezy staffer behind this egregious and repulsive pack of lies, Shemar DaCosta, has never had any kind of access to Ye, his family, or Yeezy, or any information pertinent to the company, and he never will."

"Yeezy Porn doesn’t exist," he continued. "I made sure of that by falling on my sword and quitting over it. All I’ve done since is try to get these app developers paid, as voluminous correspondence demonstrates."

They are seeking damages for unpaid wages, overtime pay, and emotional distress.

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