A former Yeezy staffer, a Jewish woman, sued Kanye West in California superior court Tuesday alleging sex and religious discrimination and harassment, accusing West of comparing himself to Hitler, sending her pornographic material and referring to her as “bitch” and other insults in text messages, the latest in the rapper’s ongoing antisemitism controversies.
West has once again sparked a storm of controversy for antisemitic remarks. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Key Takeaways
- The plaintiff, referred to in the complaint as Jane Doe, worked as a marketer for Yeezy in 2024, in which role she says she was subject to antisemitic remarks, including a text from West that states: “Hail Hitler.”
- The complaint alleges West texted the plaintiff, “I Am A NAZI,” in January 2024 after she suggested he make a statement condemning Nazism, after his “Vultures 1” album cover sparked controversy for allegedly evoking a Nazi aesthetic.
- West also asked the plaintiff and another staffer in June 2024 what they were being paid, then texting: “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler,” before berating the staffers for not responding to his messages, according to the suit.
- The plaintiff says in her complaint she took a job at Yeezy hoping West had changed after he issued an apology to the Jewish community in a post on Instagram in December 2023, which came more than a year after a string of antisemitic comments tanked his business career and ended his billionaire status.
- The plaintiff said West had sent her pornographic material, which made her feel uncomfortable, and that he directed her to market his controversial “Yeezy Porn” venture, which she refused to do because she morally opposes pornography.
- The plaintiff alleged she was once fired and quickly rehired by West, and that she was subject to harassment over text, with his back-to-back texts to the plaintiff including: “You Ugly as F—”, “You stupid ass corny bitch,” “F— You Bitch” and “Now sue me you corny ass bitch.”
- West allegedly fired the plaintiff in June 2024, one day after she reported his conduct to her manager, the complaint says.
- Forbes has reached out to West’s representatives for comment.
Crucial Quote
“Ye waged a relentless and deliberate campaign of antisemitism and misogyny against my client. His appalling treatment of women and fixation on Nazism, evident in abusive texts where he repeatedly calls himself Hitler, expose his motives,” the plaintiff’s lawyer, Carney Shegerian, said in a statement to Forbes.
What’s Going On With Kanye West’s Antisemitism Controversies?
West, who has a history of making antisemitic and otherwise inflammatory comments, has sparked a renewed storm of controversy in recent days. Last week, West posted dozens of tweets in quick succession, many of which were antisemitic and all-capitals, in which he said: ““I LOVE HITLER NOW WHAT B*****ES,” “IM A NAZI” and “Hitler was sooooo fresh.” West also purchased a television ad in the Los Angeles area which aired during the Super Bowl, directing users to go to yeezy.com. At the time, the only item available for sale was a t-shirt with a swastika on it. E-commerce platform Shopify said Tuesday it pulled West’s shop because it “did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms.” West’s X account has since been deactivated. He also stirred controversy over his appearance at the Grammy Awards earlier this month alongside wife Bianca Censori, who removed her coat on the red carpet to reveal a see-through dress. In tweets after the incident, West said he has “dominion” over his wife.
Key Background
West previously made a series of antisemitic and bizarre comments in 2022, tanking his fashion empire in the process. In tweet tirades, he said he would go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” and claimed “Black musicians signed to Jewish record labels and those Jewish record labels take ownership.” CNN reported in October 2022, citing unnamed sources, that West had a longstanding fascination with Adolf Hitler and at one point wanted to name an album after him, though he scrapped those plans. In response to West’s bizarre behavior, Adidas cut ties with him, ending his lucrative Yeezy partnership with the brand. According to Forbes estimates, the loss of the deal slashed West’s net worth from $2 billion to about $400 million.
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