Kanye West has faced his share of legal battles over the years, and now Ye is attempting to sort out another dispute in civil court. Construction worker Tony Saxon recently testified in his lawsuit tied to work on Ye’s Malibu mansion, alleging labor violations, on-the-job injuries, unpaid wages, and more.
Per Rolling Stone, Saxon took the stand on Wednesday (February 25), claiming Kanye required him to stay at the property 24/7 to handle security duties he says weren’t part of the original agreement. He also alleged that Ye woke him up unexpectedly twice in the middle of the night.
Jurors were shown photos of Saxon’s living setup, which included a small mattress on the floor surrounded by bottled water and Ensure protein shakes. Although Saxon described his relationship with the Chicago artist as cordial at times, he testified that the Yeezy founder placed intense pressure on him and subjected him to unfair working conditions.
Saxon also presented text messages between himself and Kanye West, who has denied the accusations. Ye and his attorneys have instead alleged that Saxon undermined the project, tried to avoid scrutiny over not having a proper license, and failed to meet Ye’s expectations for demolishing and rebuilding the Malibu property.
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“Since you’re going to be there so much, running shifts, you should be the security,” Kanye West allegedly told Tony Saxon. “Stay here now. You can’t leave.”
Ye’s attorneys argue that Saxon was hired as an independent contractor, not an employee. Saxon, however, maintains that the secrecy surrounding the Malibu project stemmed from Kanye not having the proper permits — not from any issue with his own licensing. He also referenced a back injury he says he suffered while working on the property, though the defense countered that there are no medical records to support the claim. Saxon’s lawyer, Ron Zambrano, acknowledged that his client did not seek medical treatment.
Kanye West is expected to testify in the case, along with his wife, Bianca Censori, who allegedly made the initial contact with Saxon. The lawsuit also includes claims of retaliation. Saxon previously told Rolling Stone that Ye called him a “Clinton” and a “Kardashian” after he refused to carry out certain requests.
