Kanye West Faces New Lawsuit for Alleged 'Forced Labor'; Employees Reportedly Called "New Slaves'

Kanye West, the renowned rapper turned entrepreneur, is embroiled in a legal battle following allegations of severe labor conditions and inappropriate workplace behavior.

The lawsuit, filed in a US District Court, accuses West and his former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, of fostering a hostile environment at their company while failing to pay wages to their employees, some of whom were minors.

The lawsuit details disturbing claims against Kanye West and Milo Yiannopoulos, alleging "forced labor and cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment" of employees.

Workers were reportedly subjected to racist remarks and derogatory labels such as "new slaves" during their tenure at the company.

The lawsuit claims the plaintiff, who identifies as Black, was uncomfortable with the use of the terms "slaves" and Black hand emojis and asked for it to stop, according to Mirror US.

The plaintiff also alleged racial discrimination, stating that white employees received special treatment and were secretly promised jobs at Yeezy.

The lawsuit specifically points to the development phase of YZYVSN, a streaming app intended to compete with industry giants like Apple Music and Spotify.

Kanye West employees, including minors as young as 14, were allegedly hired under coercive conditions and required to work long hours remotely using platforms like Slack and Zoom.

Milo Yiannopoulos purportedly promised a substantial payment of $120,000 upon completion of the app, contingent on their compliance with demanding work schedules and silence about their treatment.

Workplace Atmosphere and Alleged Incidents

The work environment described in the lawsuit paints a troubling picture of harassment and exploitation.

White managers reportedly used discriminatory language towards Kanye West employees based on their race, age, and other personal attributes.

Instances cited include Yiannopoulos sending racially insensitive emojis and making derogatory remarks towards team members, Page Six reports.

Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that in late April, Kanye West's wife, Bianca Censori, distributed links to explicit adult content to staff members, including minors, amid discussions about launching an adult film venture named "Yeezy Porn."

This exposure allegedly occurred within the professional setting of developing the YZYVSN app, further exacerbating the hostile work conditions.

Legal Response and Future Steps

The lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid wages, overtime pay, and damages for emotional distress suffered by the employees.

Despite multiple attempts to reach Kanye West and Milo Yiannopoulos for comment, there has been no response from their representatives.

Yiannopoulos, who resigned from the company over disagreements regarding West's business ventures, has denied the allegations, dismissing the lawsuit as baseless and dishonest, The Washington Post noted.

The legal proceedings are part of a broader pattern of legal challenges facing Kanye West, including previous accusations of misconduct and workplace violations.

As the case unfolds, it underscores the importance of workplace ethics and legal protections for employees, particularly in high-profile industries where creative endeavors intersect with corporate governance and personal conduct.

The allegations against Kanye West and Milo Yiannopoulos highlight significant concerns about workplace culture and accountability within their business ventures.

As legal proceedings continue, attention remains focused on the outcomes for the employees affected and the broader implications for corporate responsibility in the entertainment and technology sectors.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

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