Current:Home > MarketsYe accused of drugging, sexually assaulting ex-assistant at Diddy session -WealthMindset Learning
Ye accused of drugging, sexually assaulting ex-assistant at Diddy session
View
Date:2025-04-14 06:16:25
Ye is facing new allegations from his former assistant, who claims he drugged and sexually assaulted her.
In an amended complaint filed in California and obtained by USA TODAY, Kanye West's former assistant Lauren Pisciotta alleged the rapper "touched, groped, fondled, grabbed and forced himself in and on" her on multiple occasions without her consent. The latest filing came after Pisciotta previously sued Ye for sexual harassment, wrongful termination and breach of contract earlier this year.
USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Ye for comment.
In a statement provided to Rolling Stone in June, a legal representative for the rapper accused Pisciotta of "blackmail and extortion" and claimed she was "terminated for being unqualified, demanding unreasonable sums of money (including a $4 million annual salary) and numerous documented incidents of her lascivious, unhinged conduct," adding that Pisciotta "consistently used sexual coercion in an attempt to demand not only money but material items."
In the filing, Pisciotta detailed one incident of alleged sexual assault she said occurred before she started working for Ye, when the rapper invited her to attend a studio session he co-hosted with Sean "Diddy" Combs. The complaint alleged Pisciotta was served with a drink laced with an unidentified drug, which caused her to slip into a "heavily impaired state." Pisciotta said she woke up the next day with no memory of what happened.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
New Kanye West lawsuit:Ye accused of 'spreading antisemitism' at Donda Academy
According to the complaint, Pisciotta initially had "no reason to believe she was touched inappropriately or sexually assaulted," and she did not suspect that Ye had drugged her. However, she alleged that years later, Ye mentioned to her that they "hooked up" that evening, leading her to realize she was "in fact drugged and sexually assaulted" by him.
"She could not stomach the fact that she worked for the man who had sexually assaulted her against her will while she was drugged, who then successfully lured her back into his orbit by way of a job opportunity to sexually assault her all over again," the complaint said, adding that Pisciotta feared Ye would retaliate against her if she spoke up.
Ye sued by former employee:John Doe says he was asked to investigate Kim Kardashian, 'tail' Bianca Censori
In another incident alleged to have occurred during a work trip in July 2021, Pisciotta claimed Ye forced his way into her hotel room, saying he needed to use her shower because his wasn't working. Once inside, the rapper allegedly approached Pisciotta, dropped his towel, and "aggressively moved and pushed (Pisciotta) from the chair she was sitting in over to the bed and pushed her down." He then "attempted to forcefully thrust his naked body onto and penis into (Pisciotta's) face" while she pleaded with him to stop, the complaint alleged.
"(Pisciotta) was very clearly unwilling, non-consenting and visually upset at Kanye West a.k.a Ye for the battery, gender violence and sexual assault," the lawsuit said.
Pisciotta also accused Ye of subjecting her to "constant" sexual harassment throughout her employment, despite her making clear she was not interested in him, and provided numerous sexually explicit text messages allegedly sent by the rapper as evidence. Being forced to dodge his "unwanted sexual advances, sexual assault, continuous sexual harassment," and the revelation that Ye allegedly "sexually assaulted her while she was drugged" led Pisciotta to suffer from "severe anxiety, depression and overwhelming PTSD," the lawsuit said. Pisciotta alleged Ye wrongfully terminated her in 2022 in "retaliation for her complaints and refusal to have sex with" him.
This was the latest legal issue for Ye, who last week faced a lawsuit from a former employee who accused him of infliction of emotional distress, labor code violations and retaliation. That lawsuit claimed the former employee was asked to investigate Ye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian and hire private investigators to spy on his spouse Bianca Censori. It additionally alleged that Ye threatened to kill the former employee, identified as John Doe.
"Our client is so fearful of Ye and his erratic, disturbing and unpredictable behavior that he wishes to remain anonymous for his own safety," Doe's attorneys said. "It's not only illegal but unconscionable that an employer would threaten any employee with bodily harm or death."
Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Robert De Niro’s former top assistant says she found his back-scratching behavior ‘creepy’
- Trump asks appeals court to stay gag order in D.C. 2020 election interference case
- In lieu of flowers, Iowa football fan's obit asks for prayers for putrid offense
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- New Delhi shuts schools and limits construction work to reduce severe air pollution
- As turkey prices drop, cost of some Thanksgiving side dishes go up, report says
- From soccer pitch to gridiron, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey off to historic NFL start
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Israel says it's killed a Hamas commander involved in Oct. 7 attacks. Who else is Israel targeting in Gaza?
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Head of China’s state-backed Catholic church to visit Hong Kong amid strained Sino-Vatican relations
- Thanksgiving Survival Guide: Here’s What You Need to Navigate the Holiday Season with Crazy Relatives
- Target offering a Thanksgiving dinner for $25: How to order the meal that will feed 4
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Pulling an all-nighter is a temporary antidepressant
- Storm Ciarán brings record rainfall to Italy with at least 6 killed. European death toll rises to 14
- Her daughter was killed in the Robb Elementary shooting. Now she’s running for mayor of Uvalde
Recommendation
Louisiana high court temporarily removes Judge Eboni Johnson Rose from Baton Rouge bench amid probe
Ben Simmons - yes, that Ben Simmons - is back. What that means for Nets
Appeals courts temporarily lifts Trump’s gag order as he fights the restrictions on his speech
Hunter Biden: I fought to get sober. Political weaponization of my addiction hurts more than me.
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
Earthquake rattles Greek island near Athens, but no injuries or serious damage reported
Tensions spike in Rio de Janeiro ahead of Copa Libertadores soccer final and after Copacabana brawl
Pac-12 showdown and SEC clashes: The 7 biggest games of Week 10 in college football