Amidst the gradual comeback of Kanye West, he’s still in hot water with a lawsuit. In a report from Rolling Stone, a jury found the Chicago legend liable for damages and injuries to Plaintiff Tony Saxon. Initially, Saxon asked for a whopping $1.7 million in compensation. In the end though, he was only awarded $140,000 in total.
Saxon said that he was hired as project manager and security guard for Ye’s $57 million Malibu mansion in 2021. “Stay here now. You can’t leave,” Ye allegedly told the plaintiff, telling him he would be on-site at all times. However, once the plaintiff injured his neck and back working on the California property, he was swiftly denied any proper accommodations. Additionally, when informing Kanye West that there was a carbon monoxide risk in the generators, the rapper lashed out accordingly.
“If you don’t do what I ask you to do, you’re an enemy. You’re a Clinton. You’re a Kardashian. And I won’t be your friend anymore, and you’re only gonna see me on the TV and the news,” Saxon recalled in a “very scary interaction.”
Kanye West Found Liable For Workplace Harm and Ponying Up $140k in Trial
Saxon’s lawyer Ron Zambrano stressed that his client was hired as an employee versus just an independent contractor. Moreover, they claimed that their argument held firm legitimacy because they provided thousands of pages of evidence in text messages. This contrasted to Kanye West and his legal team, which only provided 19 pages for their claims. “[Saxon] kept things that were embarrassing, and he still presented them to you,” Zambrano said. “Mr. Saxon, for all his layers, was transparent with you. He has been victimized, and he got hurt.”
Ye sold the property in 2024 at a $36 million loss after ordering the home to be stripped of so many basic fixtures. Plumbing, toilets, cabinets, electricity, a fireplace, all gone to West’s orders.
As Kanye West continues to maneuver through his countless lawsuits, he’s embarking on his apology tour. Back in January 2026, he took out a Wall Street Journal ad to plead for forgiveness for his past transgressions. Moreover, he hoped people would extend empathy as he battled his bipolar disorder. “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home,” Kanye West wrote.
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