Kanye West's ex-assistant details alleged sexual assault, stalking as she ramps up legal fight
Published in Entertainment News
LOS ANGELES — Ye, the vitriolic rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is facing a new round of controversy involving fresh allegations from an ex-assistant including sex trafficking, sexual harassment, stalking and sexual battery.
Ye's accuser, former Yeezy employee Lauren Pisciotta, has taken more legal action against the Grammy-winning "All of the Lights" musician a year after she sued him for sexual harassment and breach of contract, among other counts, in June 2024. In an amended complaint filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, Pisciotta claims the rapper forced her to perform oral sex on him, sexually assaulted her numerous times during her Yeezy employment and engaged in sexual activity with employees at his Yeezy offices. Pisciotta also accuses the rapper of stalking her after she filed her initial lawsuit.
Legal representatives for Ye and his Yeezy brands did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment Thursday.
Pisciotta's 37-page complaint, reviewed by The Times, doubles down on claims from her June 2024 suit but also details sexual assaults that allegedly occurred at a San Francisco hotel shortly after Ye hired Pisciotta in 2021 to help with the creation of his album "Donda."
"For almost two years Ms. Pisciotta dedicated her life to Ye under the pretense that he would present her with pivotal opportunities in the music and fashion industries at an even larger scale than any of her previous work," the lawsuit said. "Despite Ms. Pisciotta's unwavering dedication to her job, Ye continued to sexually harass her at every opportunity."
Pisciotta alleges that during her time working with Ye in San Francisco, he forcefully kissed her on the mouth, forcibly touched her genitals with one hand while stroking himself with the other, exposed himself and "forced his penis into her mouth," according to legal documents.
Ye allegedly sexually assaulted Pisciotta another time, in October 2023, according to legal documents, when they were en route to Paris from Los Angeles. The 48-year-old rapper requested Pisciotta come to his private room on his plane and demanded she give him a hug. She refused, but Ye said he needed to speak with her and locked her in the room, where he allegedly "retreated to his bed and began to masturbate." Pisciotta claims she was "forced" to remain in the room until someone opened the door from the outside.
The complaint also paints a disturbing picture of the inner workings and culture of the Yeezy offices, alleging Ye verbally abused Pisciotta, often used "derogatory, antisemitic slurs" and "demanded assistants and other employees draw swastikas in the workplace." Earlier this year, Ye came under fire for placing a TV ad during the Super Bowl for a website selling a T-shirt emblazoned with the hate symbol.
Additionally, "Ye openly performed sexual acts with women at the Yeezy office," the complaint said, adding that one of the women was his current wife, Bianca Censori. Pisciotta's complaint also repeated previous allegations that Ye constantly messaged her about his sexual fantasies involving her, sending sexually explicit videos, photos and memes.
Ye, who in recent years has used his social media pages to spew hate including antisemitic rants, posted on X earlier this year about his inappropriate workplace practices in numerous lewd posts mentioned in the complaint.
"Life is about using your position to f— the baddest b— possible," he said in one post.
Other since-deleted posts from Ye include "I'm a walking me too," referring to the watershed #MeToo movement, and "I'm a big time perv." The complaint also includes posts where Ye uses misogynistic language and homophobic slurs, and claims there is a difference between "me too rapes" and "real rape."
Though the complaint mainly concerns incidents that allegedly occurred during Pisciotta's Yeezy tenure, she said the rapper admitted to assaulting her in 2015 during a studio recording session in Santa Monica.
Pisciotta alleged that West's disturbing behavior did not end after she was terminated at Yeezy. She claims the rapper grabbed her by the throat and stuck his tongue in her ear when they saw each other at a concert in November 2022. He also allegedly moved into the same apartment complex as Pisciotta, prompting her to move out of state.
After moving to Florida, Pisciotta claims Ye arranged a "swatting" event at her home days after she filed her initial lawsuit. Swatting is a hoax 911 report made in the hope of generating a large law enforcement response. Pisciotta said officers arrived at her home to investigate reports of child abuse and murder. Pisciotta said she had "also experienced a barrage of service workers such as plumbers and food delivery workers showing up to her door unannounced."
She further alleges she has received calls from people warning her not to pursue further legal action against Ye.
Pisciotta is also suing for counts of assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and other charges. She demands an unspecified amount in damages and wants a jury trial.
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