Kanye Accused of Locking Musician in Band Room

Chase Taylor has filed a lawsuit against Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, alleging multiple unfair and deceptive trade practices related to the 2019 opera Nebuchadnezzar. Taylor claims he was lured to Wyoming under the pretense of a starring role but was instead locked inside a high school band room with less than a week to make the opera performance-ready. He alleges he was forced to compose music, manage other musicians, and was denied adequate food and rest.

Taylor's lawsuit, filed in North Carolina federal court, follows a similar complaint from musician Willie Alexander, who also reported being coerced into composing the opera from scratch under rushed conditions. Taylor asserts he was misled about the opera's charitable religious purpose, stating that ticket proceeds were pocketed by Ye and his companies. He is seeking copyright ownership for his compositions, a share of profits from allegedly infringing songs, and damages for fraud and false imprisonment.

In addition to Taylor's claims, Ye previously agreed to a $1.35 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit involving hundreds of workers from the Nebuchadnezzar production, with a hearing scheduled for December 8. A mandatory settlement conference for Alexander's pending lawsuit is set for January 12, 2027.