Court testimony this week zeroed in on one explosive claim: Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, allegedly ordered a man working for him to live inside his Malibu beach house during demolition and told him he was not allowed to leave.
The man, Tony Saxon, was hired by Ye in 2021 to serve as a project manager on the oceanfront property. Saxon testified that his role included overseeing demolition crews, coordinating construction tasks, sending constant photo updates, and managing day-to-day operations as the home was stripped down. Ye’s legal team has argued Saxon worked as an independent contractor, not an employee.
On February 25, Saxon took the stand and described what he said were strict instructions from Ye. After a night watchman was dismissed, Saxon said the rap mogul shifted security duties onto him and made the expectation clear.
“Stay here now. You can’t leave,” Saxon told jurors Ye said.
According to Saxon, that order meant he was required to remain on site around the clock. He said he slept on a small mattress placed directly on concrete flooring inside the partially demolished home.
He also described a moment that caught him off guard.
“He stood over me and asked, ‘Why are you not working?’” Saxon testified. “It was like three or four in the morning. I said, ‘I have to sleep sometime.’” Saxon added that his former boss chuckled in response.
Saxon told jurors the renovation was extensive. He said Ye ordered all plumbing, electrical wiring, windows, a jacuzzi, chimney stacks, fire pits, and a black marble bathroom removed. The goal, according to Saxon, was to transform the residence into an open concept, off-the-grid bunker powered by generators and standalone systems.
“He didn’t want to be connected to the city’s power grid or water grid,” Saxon testified.
Text messages shown in court reflected frequent updates about debris removal and equipment deliveries. Saxon is suing over injuries he claims he suffered during demolition and says he was fired after raising safety concerns. Ye’s attorney has disputed those claims in court.
The trial is ongoing.
