Kanye's Ex-Worker Alleges 'Off-the-Grid' Mansion Demolition

A trial has begun in Los Angeles where former worker Tony Saxon is suing Kanye West, referred to as Ye, over alleged harm caused during renovations of a Malibu mansion. Saxon's legal team claims Ye, who purchased the Tadao Ando-designed property for $57.3 million in 2021, ordered Saxon to hollow out the home for an "off-the-grid" experiment, removing essential features like plumbing and windows. Saxon alleges he sustained a serious back injury while dismantling chimney stacks and is owed $75,000 for completed work, claiming lasting harm preventing him from working.

Ye's attorneys contend that Saxon was an unlicensed independent contractor who was paid over $240,000 for approximately six weeks of work and is now fabricating claims. They assert Saxon caused damage to the "architectural gem" and that Ye was unaware of the extent of the work, including the removal of bathrooms. Saxon's lawyer also stated his client was fired after expressing concerns about generator safety and potential carbon monoxide poisoning, portraying Ye as a volatile employer who dismantled the "rule book."

Saxon initially filed his lawsuit in 2023, detailing claims of injury and retaliatory firing for raising safety issues. The trial is expected to last another 10 days, with both Ye and his wife, Bianca Censori, anticipated to testify. This case is among several civil complaints filed against Ye over the past six years, following his public antisemitic statements in late 2022. Ye has since issued multiple apologies, citing struggles with bipolar disorder, which he stated was not properly diagnosed until 2023.