Kanye West sues former assistant for extortion

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Kanye West has released a detailed response to the lawsuit filed by his former assistant, who is suing him for sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

She is suing disgraced Lauren Pisciotta, 46. The 35-year-old says she was hired as West’s “executive assistant/personal assistant” in 2021 at an annual salary of $1 million (£781,450).

She says West, who officially changed his name to Ye in 2021, bombarded her with explicit messages and, in one case, masturbated in front of her after offering her $1 million if she deleted her OnlyFans account in 2022.

In a statement to The IndependentYe’s legal representative said they are preparing a countersuit.

“In response to these baseless allegations, Ye will file a lawsuit against Ms. Pisciotta, who actively sexually pursued him to coerce him into employment and other material benefits, and who then blackmailed him when her advances were rebuffed,” the statement said.

Pisciotta said in her lawsuit that she worked in the music industry for 15 years before being hired by West and collaborated with him on the first season of his Yeezy women’s clothing line. She claims she also contributed to three songs on his album. Dondawhich was released in 2021.

In the lawsuit, Pisciotta said she earned an additional $1 million from OnlyFans, the subscription platform that primarily hosts adult content, before West asked her to delete it.

Pisciotta claimed that West called her under the pretense of discussing work matters and then masturbated with her during the phone call.

In another incident, West reportedly locked Pisciotta in a room with him during a flight to Paris, saying he needed to talk to her. He then lay down on his bed and masturbated under the covers until he fell asleep while she sat across from him in an armchair.

Pisciotta said in the lawsuit that around September 2022 she was promoted to chief of staff for West’s various companies and was told she would receive an additional $3 million (£2.3 million). However, the following month she claimed she was fired and offered a $3 million severance package, which she did not receive.

She is suing West for sexual harassment, breach of contract and wrongful termination, and is also suing West and his affiliated Yeezy companies for fraud, unpaid wages and intentional infliction of emotional distress.