Rapper and fashion mogul Kanye West — who now legally goes by Ye — is embroiled in a high-stakes legal dispute over the renovation of his Malibu beachfront mansion, with a former employee seeking more than $1 million (£740,000) in alleged unpaid wages and damages.
Jury selection in the case began this week, marking the latest chapter in a lawsuit that was first filed in September 2023. The complaint outlines a series of serious allegations against the Grammy-winning artist, including claims of unsafe working conditions, disability discrimination, unpaid wages and reimbursements, and wrongful retaliatory termination.
At the centre of the dispute is Tony Saxon, who was hired in 2021 after West purchased the oceanfront Malibu property. According to court documents previously obtained by People magazine, Saxon was brought on as a project manager to oversee extensive renovations to the luxury home. His role allegedly extended beyond construction oversight, with responsibilities that included serving as full-time security and a live-in caretaker for the property.
Saxon claims he was promised $20,000 (£14,820) per week for his services. However, he alleges that he received only a single payment during his time working on the project. The lawsuit contends that despite fulfilling multiple demanding roles, Saxon was not compensated as agreed and was left to shoulder significant personal and professional strain.
Beyond the financial dispute, the complaint paints a troubling picture of the working environment at the Malibu site. Saxon alleges that he was required to live on the property under what he described as “makeshift conditions,” lacking basic amenities. He claims that the house, during the renovation process, had no electricity, windows, plumbing or functional staircases, creating what he considered to be hazardous and unsafe circumstances.
In social media posts shared last year, Saxon detailed his version of events, alleging that Kanye West envisioned drastic structural changes to the mansion, including plans for a bunker-style shelter in the basement. He claimed that the artist wanted to strip the home down to an extreme minimalist state while simultaneously maintaining unconventional security concerns.
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“He wanted to have a bomb shelter / bunker in the basement to hide from ‘Clintons and Kardashians’, all while living on a public beach, and have his house have no electricity, no windows, no plumbing, and no stairs!” Saxon wrote on Instagram.
He further alleged that the physically demanding nature of the work resulted in lasting injury. According to the complaint, Saxon severely injured his back around early November 2021 while performing tasks related to the renovation. He claims the injury significantly affected his neck and spine, causing long-term damage.
The lawsuit states that after sustaining the injury, Saxon requested time off to recover. However, he alleges that West insisted that work on the project continue without interruption. When Saxon was unable or unwilling to comply with what he describes as “dangerous requests,” he claims he was terminated in retaliation.
The legal filing argues that the termination was not only unjust but also discriminatory, given that it allegedly followed his disclosure of a serious physical injury. Saxon contends that rather than accommodating his condition, West dismissed him for failing to meet demands that he believes put his health at further risk.
In a press release issued by Saxon’s legal representatives, the former project manager asserts that he is owed more than $1 million in unpaid wages and lost earnings. The sum includes compensation for weeks he says he worked without pay, as well as projected income he claims he would have earned had his employment not been terminated.
Additionally, Saxon is seeking damages for medical expenses related to his back injury and compensation for emotional distress. The lawsuit argues that the alleged conduct caused not only financial harm but also significant physical and psychological impact.
Kanye West has not publicly commented in detail on the case as jury selection gets underway. The outcome could hinge on contractual documentation, payment records and testimony regarding the working conditions at the Malibu property.
The legal battle adds to a series of controversies that have surrounded the artist in recent years, spanning business disputes, public statements and professional fallout. However, this case centres squarely on employment law and workplace safety, areas that carry potentially substantial financial and reputational consequences.
As the trial proceeds, jurors will be tasked with weighing competing accounts of what transpired at the Malibu mansion — and determining whether Saxon’s claims of unpaid wages, unsafe conditions and wrongful termination meet the legal threshold for damages.
For now, the high-profile case places renewed scrutiny on Kanye West’s ambitious architectural project and the human cost allegedly associated with bringing it to life.
