Kanye West and his former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, are embroiled in a new legal battle following accusations of creating a toxic work environment while developing the YZYVSN music streaming app. A group of former staffers has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, alleging that West and Yiannopoulos subjected them to racist remarks, unfair labor practices, and inhumane treatment.
The lawsuit claims that Kanye West referred to his employees as “new slaves” and failed to pay them fairly, despite promising substantial compensation. Employees were allegedly forced to work long hours under abusive conditions and were made to sign non-disclosure agreements to keep the misconduct hidden. Yiannopoulos is accused of using racial slurs and sending inappropriate messages, including comparing a team member to a school shooter.
Bianca Censori Accused of Sending Inappropriate Content to Minors
Bianca Censori, Kanye West’s wife, has also been implicated in the lawsuit, although she is not listed as a defendant. According to the allegations, Censori sent inappropriate adult content to staff members, some of whom were minors at the time. The lawsuit contends that one worker, who was 14 years old, received a file-sharing link containing explicit material while developing the YZYVSN app.
The legal action highlights the disturbing environment within the YZYVSN project, which aimed to compete with music streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music. The staff, including Black members and underage workers, were reportedly promised $120,000 upon completion of the project, but only if they agreed to undisclosed terms. The lawsuit underscores the failure of West and Yiannopoulos to meet these promises, instead subjecting employees to harsh conditions and racial abuse.
In May, Milo Yiannopoulos resigned from his position at Yeezy, citing the nature of the work as a danger to his well-being. He stated that the environment posed “an imminent danger to my life as a recovering addict and an unacceptable risk to my spiritual and physical health as a former homosexual.”
As this legal battle unfolds, it raises serious questions about the treatment of employees within Kanye West’s ventures and the responsibility of those in leadership positions to maintain a safe and respectful workplace.