Kanye West Allegedly Hired Fixer to Investigate Kardashians and P.I. to 'Tail' Bianca Censori: Complaint

Mar. 15, 2025

Kanye West; Kim Kardashian; Bianca Censori.Photo:Brad Barket/Getty; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty

Brad Barket/Getty; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty

A Michigan-based John Doe filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Monday, Oct. 7 against the rapper — whohas legally changed his name to Ye— on allegations of emotional distress, retaliation and labor code violations. Doe is seeking in excess of seven figures in punitive and compensatory damages, including unpaid wages.

The plaintiff also alleges that West had him hire private investigators “to follow and ‘tail’” Censori — without her knowledge — while she was visiting family in Australia on her own.

According to the complaint, on or around May 14, 2024, West allegedly began to lay off much of Yeezy’s leadership around the time he decided to “get titanium teeth [and] consume nitrous oxide,” which Doe speculates led to some of his “erratic behavior” at that time.

Kanye West and Bianca Censori in Los Angeles in May 2023.Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC

Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC

Doe claims he was tasked with “fixing” West’s problems, including investigating “items that were stolen or lost, prompting further investigations.” According to the former staffer, “it was common for Ye to lose expensive cars or fail to pay people for services rendered at Ye’s direction.”

Soon after layoffs at the school began, the plaintiff further claims in the complaint that he received a call from a Donda Academy employee whoclaimed that children had been abused at the schooland “supposedly nothing was done to correct or report the problem.”

Doe, a military veteran who suffers from PTSD, claims he informed the remaining Yeezy leadership team about the abuse allegations, and on the same day received a call from West who allegedly yelled, cursed and threatened him “with great bodily injury, including death” should the plaintiff repeat the Donda Academy allegations.

“You’re f—ing dead to me!” West allegedly told Doe, per the complaint.

In the coming days, the plaintiff claims in the complaint that he received threats of violence from West’s associates.

“Ye has only himself to blame for his mounting legal woes," claimed the plaintiff’s attorney Ron Zambrano, a partner and employment litigation chair atWest Coast Employment Lawyersin a statement to PEOPLE regarding the lawsuit. “He just can’t continue hiring employees, treating them terribly, then refusing to pay them in violation of numerous employment laws, let alone threaten to kill them as he did in this case.”

Zambrano further alleged that his “client is so fearful of Ye and his erratic, disturbing and unpredictable behavior that he wishes to remain anonymous for his own safety.”

“It’s not only illegal but unconscionable that an employer would threaten any employee with bodily harm or death,” he concluded.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Kanye West in Los Angeles in May 2023.Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

The latest lawsuit is one of several that West is facing fromformer employeesand surrounding hisprivate Christian school, Donda Academy.

In June, West’s ex-assistant Lauren Pisciottafiled a lawsuit against himalleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The “Heartless” musician then accused her of “blackmail and extortion."

At the time, a rep for West told people in a statement that he was allegedly planning to file his own lawsuit against his ex-employee for making “baseless allegations” against him and making “demands” of “$50 [million] in last week’s frivolous filing.” Court records did not show that West filed a lawsuit against Pisciotta.

source: people.com