American rapper Kanye West, who legally goes by Ye, is set to appear in court over a lawsuit filed by a former employee who says he was not paid wages promised for work related to West’s Malibu beachfront mansion renovation and maintenance. This legal case has moved closer to trial with jury selection expected to begin soon.
The lawsuit was originally filed in September 2023 by Tony Saxon, who says he was hired as a project manager for work on West’s stripped-down Malibu property. According to court documents, Saxon claims he took on multiple roles during his time there, including working as a full-time security guard and live-in caretaker, yet only received a single payment despite a verbal agreement that he would be paid $20,000 per week.
Saxon further alleges that his working conditions were unsafe and that he suffered a serious back injury in 2021 while on the job. He says his complaints about safety risks were ignored and that he was pressured to continue working despite his injury. According to the lawsuit, after requesting time off to recover, Saxon was fired for refusing what he believed were unsafe work demands.
In addition to the unpaid wages, the lawsuit includes claims of disability discrimination and unreimbursed expenses. Saxon is seeking more than $1 million in unpaid wages, lost earnings, medical costs and damages for emotional distress. The legal team representing Saxon has said he has been waiting more than two years for his day in court and that West may be called to testify before a jury.
West purchased the Malibu mansion in 2021 for around $57 million and later removed many interior fixtures, drawing media attention when it was reported that the property was largely stripped down. The case highlights ongoing legal and financial disputes connected to the property and West’s business arrangements.
