Kanye West to Cough Up $625,000 in Class Action Settlement to Ex-Yeezy Employees Who Claim They Weren’t Fully Compensated

In a recent conclusion to one legal battle, Kanye West and his fashion label Yeezy, have agreed to pay a hefty $625,000 to settle a class action lawsuit filed by former employees.

The settlement addresses various claims raised by ex-staffers Taliah Leslie and Shelby Grochowski. Court documents obtained by In Touch show that the settlement funds will be allocated not only for the former workers but also for the legal fees incurred during the lawsuit, with a portion reserved for any potential future claims.

Leslie and Grochowski joined Yeezy in November 2019, working as assistant designers and assistant patternmakers, respectively. Their lawsuit, initiated by Leslie in May 2021, alleges serious labor code violations, including the failure to provide overtime wages and proper meal breaks. She claims that the defendants “failed to compensate Plaintiff and the Aggrieved Employees for off-the-clock work” and noted instances of required travel to locations like Cody, Wyoming, and Paris, France, without appropriate compensation.

Among the key allegations, Leslie stated, “This resulted in Defendant failing to compensate all overtime hours worked when Plaintiff and Aggrieved Employees worked over eight hours in one day or forty hours in one week.” Furthermore, the complaint details how employees often worked long hours without being allowed proper meal breaks, asserting that they frequently “worked in excess of five (5) and/or ten (10) hours a day without being provided at least half-hour meal periods.”

The working conditions were reportedly influenced by West’s personal preferences. One notable complaint included a prohibition against eating indoors, leading Leslie and her colleagues to eat outside regardless of weather conditions. Despite the settlement, Yeezy maintains its stance. The defendants state in the court documents that they “deny any liability or wrongdoing” associated with the claims. They argue that their actions complied with the California Labor Code and related orders.

The agreement was signed by Bianca Censori, Kanye’s wife, on behalf of both her husband and Yeezy. While this settlement resolves one issue, Kanye faces additional legal challenges, including a recent lawsuit filed by an opera composer and ongoing lawsuits related to allegations of sexual assault.