Kanye West Ex-Employee Seeks $100K in Legal Fees After Judge Slams His “Frivolous” Attempt to Dismiss Harassment Lawsuit

Kanye West is facing yet another legal setback as a former Yeezy staffer seeks nearly $100,000 in legal fees after his failed attempt to dismiss her antisemitism and sexual harassment lawsuit. The ex-employee, who filed anonymously as “Jane Doe,” claims she endured a “calculated campaign” of abuse during her turbulent stint working for West in 2023 and 2024.

Jane Doe’s lawsuit alleges a toxic work environment rife with misogyny, antisemitic taunts, and degrading tasks. Among the most shocking claims are text messages from Kanye West stating “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler” and “Hail Hitler.” She also alleges Kanye West sent her a nude photo and demanded she work on a “Yeezy Porn” venture against her will.

In April, Kanye West filed a motion to strike Doe’s complaint under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, arguing that his provocative statements were protected under his First Amendment right to artistic expression. Kanye West’s legal team went as far as to argue that “Ye is not merely a creator; he is art,” claiming his public and private conduct forms a continuous performance challenging societal norms.

However, Los Angeles County Judge Theresa M. Traber wasn’t convinced. In a scathing June 30 ruling, she denied West’s motion, labeling it “rife with defects, specious arguments, and misstatements of law.” Traber criticized Kanye West’s use of declarations from individuals lacking credible knowledge, including his controversial associate Milo Yiannopoulos.

Calling the motion “frivolous and/or solely intended to cause unnecessary delay,” Judge Traber ruled that West must pay Doe’s “reasonable” attorney’s fees. Doe’s legal team, Shegerian & Associates, is now requesting $99,720 for 106.7 hours of legal work, with hourly rates ranging from $650 to $1,100.

Kanye West’s Ex-Assistant Hiding After Filing Sexual Assault, Swatting, and Harassment Claims

Kanye West’s representatives have yet to comment on the fee request but have filed an appeal against the judge’s ruling. They argue Kanye West’s Ex-Staffer Doe “voluntarily entered a provocative creative environment” and is attempting to reframe Kanye West’s expression as unlawful harassment.

This lawsuit is just one of many legal battles Ye is facing. Since his explosive antisemitic remarks in 2022, West has been sued over a dozen times, lost major brand partnerships with Adidas, The Gap, and Balenciaga, and faced international backlash. His controversial antics continue; earlier this year, he ran a Super Bowl ad selling swastika-emblazoned merchandise and released a track titled “Heil Hitler.”

Jane Doe’s attorney, Carney Shegerian, stated, “Ye dared my client to sue, and now he must be held accountable. His appalling treatment of women and his fixation on Nazism cannot be excused as mere artistic expression.”

A hearing on Kanye West’s legal fees of $100 million is scheduled for September 12, while West’s legal team continues to battle multiple civil lawsuits alleging a pattern of abuse, harassment, and exploitation within his ventures.