Entertainment

Kanye West Sued Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

JUN 4 2024·Updated JUN 5 2024

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The Facts

American musician Kanye West, legally known as Ye, is facing a lawsuit from a former assistant that includes allegations of sexual harassment, breach of contract,and wrongful termination, according to court documents filed Monday.
BBC News
The plaintiff, Lauren Pisciotta, says she was hired as an executive assistant for West in 2021. Pisciotta claims that she was earning money on the content subscription platform OnlyFans at the time but deleted the account after West objected in 2022.
Rolling Stone
Pisciotta received $1M from West for deleting her account. After this, West allegedly sent the plaintiff several sexually explicit text messages and videos and engaged in inappropriate behavior while on the phone with Pisciotta.
Guardian
The filing also alleges that during a flight to Paris, West trapped Pisciotta in a room on the plane and performed a sexual act in front of her. Pisciotta says she was fired in October 2022 and did not receive her $3M severance package.
Rolling Stone
The filing alleges that she was given an annual salary of $1M, that would increase to $3M after being promoted before her firing the next month. Pisciotta is also suing for fraud, unpaid wages, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
NewsNation
Other employees alleged last November that West played pornography during staff meetings. The multi-platinum-selling rapper has been mired in controversy since a spate of antisemitic comments he has made in recent years.
BBC News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

This is another sad chapter in Kanye West's career, as his behavior has grown more erratic and harmful. Kanye faces a raft of allegations regarding his personal conduct and hateful political views. The time has come to stop giving this man a platform until he cleans up his act, as we should reward him with continued success as an entertainer no longer.

guardian

Narrative B

Setting aside that these allegations have not yet been scrutinized in court, West's career transcends any of the controversies that surround him. He and his endeavors have still proven to be very successful, making any attempt to "cancel" him futile. His generational oeuvre will surely stand the test of time long after the controversies are forgotten.