{"id":2024355,"date":"2025-09-15T19:43:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T19:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2024355"},"modified":"2025-09-15T19:43:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T19:43:21","slug":"kanye-west-ex-employee-gets-76000-for-musicians-frivolous-free-speech-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/kanye-west-ex-employee-gets-76000-for-musicians-frivolous-free-speech-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Kanye West Ex-Employee Gets $76,000 for Musician\u2019s \u2018Frivolous\u2019 Free Speech Claim"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The employee who filed a lawsuit against the artist formerly known as <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/tag\/kanye-west\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kanye West;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Kanye West<\/a> has been awarded $76,245 in attorney fees after the artist attempted to dismiss her lawsuit on grounds of free speech.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Court documents obtained by Complex confirm that the Jane Doe plaintiff, who originally sought $99,720 in legal fees and costs, was awarded the money at a court hearing in Los Angeles on Thursday (Sept. 11). In the written ruling, Judge Nicholas F. Daum decided to do so after reviewing the decision of the judge before him who found Ye\u2019s motion to strike to be a baseless stalling tactic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ye\u2019s lawyer, Andrew Cherkasky, unsuccessfully argued that the court should hold on the fee order until an appeals court reviews the rapper\u2019s failed First Amendment challenge. The judge wasn\u2019t persuaded, arguing that the appeal may take a year or more and that the rapper could always appeal the fee award separately.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe certainly do think there are very interesting First Amendment issues that could lead to additional appeals,\u201d Cherkasky said at the end of the court hearing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/shop?utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_campaign=shop2025\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><b>COMPLEX SHOP:<\/b> Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what&#8217;s next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cAt this point, we intend to aggressively move along with litigation,\u201d if the appellate court upholds the lawsuit, he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ye was originally sued by Doe in February, when she outlined her time working for Yeezy in 2023 and 2024. In the lawsuit, the woman claimed that Ye sent her harassing texts such as, \u201cWelcome to the first day of working for Hitler,\u201d and ordered her to work on his <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/music\/a\/markelibert\/kanye-posting-explicit-porn-x-account\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Yeezy p**n concept;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Yeezy p**n concept<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Doe was allegedly fired after she reported the rapper\u2019s behavior to her then-manager. In Ye\u2019s motion to strike the complaint that was filed in April, the rapper claimed that Doe was attempting to \u201csuppress\u201d his constitutionally protected right to artistic expression.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cYe is not merely a creator; he is art,\u201d the filing said. \u201cYe\u2019s public and private personas form a continuous, provocative performance that challenges societal taboos surrounding race, religion, gender, power, politics, and censorship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In June, Judge Theresa M. Traber denied the rapper&#8217;s motion, saying that it was \u201crife with defects, specious arguments, and misstatements of law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Last year, Ye<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/music\/a\/alex-ocho\/kanye-west-accused-of-sexual-harrassment-by-former-assistant\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:faced a sexual harassment lawsuit;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\"> faced a sexual harassment lawsuit<\/a> from his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta. She claimed that Ye hired her in 2021 and sent him explicit text messages, asked her to delete her OnlyFans account, and terminated her without paying $3 million in severance.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Related News<\/h3>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"ct:story;elm:img;itc:0;\" class=\"stretched-box\" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/style\/a\/abel-shifferaw\/kanye-west-yeezy-brand-shipping-delays-lawsuit\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Kanye West hit with lawsuit over shipping delays.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"625\" height=\"352\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/nHj7Mpfpwhaq9MN6IrpRnA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/complex_131\/eb21dc68d51b72db7a1d99b11c7dcc03\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>Kanye West&#8217;s Yeezy Hit With Lawsuit in California Over Shipping Delays<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">,<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"ct:story;elm:img;itc:0;\" class=\"stretched-box\" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/music\/a\/tracewilliamcowen\/dave-blunts-live-trapped-elevator-call-kanye-west\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A person in an elevator during a live stream, with comments visible on the screen.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/hmG86o2DB3E1f7RmvRcrWA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/complex_131\/cdeb5ddfe29f4b6422864a4dbddd6013\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>Dave Blunts Goes Live While &#8216;Trapped&#8217; in Elevator: &#8216;Somebody Call Ye&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">,<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"ct:story;elm:img;itc:0;\" class=\"stretched-box\" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/music\/a\/markelibert\/ye-targets-dave-chappelle-in-another-antisemitic-tirade\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Kanye West in a black jacket and Dave Chappelle holding a microphone, both looking thoughtful.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/P0lAMAX602OXrC7O9_ecgQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/complex_131\/dca633e66e69042cf61a8397efcf9665\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>Ye Goes Off on Dave Chappelle in Another Antisemitic Tirade: &#8216;You Gone Die Ugly&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\"><b>Related News<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><b><i><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/music\/articles\/dj-khaled-says-avoided-drake-211417397.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:DJ Khaled Says He Avoided Drake, Rick Ross, and Future Feud Because \u2018Those Are My Brothers\u2019;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">DJ Khaled Says He Avoided Drake, Rick Ross, and Future Feud Because \u2018Those Are My Brothers\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><b><i><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/music\/articles\/ed-sheeran-reveals-music-ready-170935531.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ed Sheeran Reveals He Has Music Ready to Go for When He Dies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Ed Sheeran Reveals He Has Music Ready to Go for When He Dies<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/shop?utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_campaign=shop2025\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><b>COMPLEX SHOP:<\/b> Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what&#8217;s next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/newsletters?utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_cta5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Making Culture Pop. Find the latest entertainment news and the best in music, pop culture, sneakers, style and original shows.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><b>Making Culture Pop.<\/b> Find the latest entertainment news and the best in music, pop culture, sneakers, style and original shows.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The employee who filed a lawsuit against the artist formerly known as Kanye West has been awarded $76,245 in attorney fees after the artist attempted to dismiss her lawsuit on grounds of free speech. Court documents obtained by Complex confirm that the Jane Doe plaintiff, who originally sought $99,720 in legal fees and costs, was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2024356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25173],"tags":[372534,366298,24510],"class_list":["post-2024355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists","tag-andrew-cherkasky","tag-jane-doe","tag-kanye-west"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanye-West-Ex-Employee-Gets-76000-for-Musicians-\u2018Frivolous-Free-Speech.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2024355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2024355"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2024355\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2024356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2024355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2024355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2024355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}