[US] Kanye West faces two lawsuits from workers at his opera

The musical artist and producer Kanye West is facing two class-action lawsuits from workers at his live Christian opera Nebuchadnezzar. The suits detail grievances surrounding the workers’ pay and treatment while employed on the show, NME reports.

Mr West is accused of failing to pay minimum wage and overtime, owing “unpaid wages” and refusing to provide appropriate meal and rest breaks when he hosted a series of shows at The Hollywood Bowl in 2019.

Nebuchadnezzar had its premiere in November 2019, a second Christian opera - Mary - was staged a month later. According to documents obtained by The Blast, Kanye West and the production’s promoters Live Nation are being sued by multiple workers. They allege “unpaid wages, continuing wages, damages, civil penalties, statutory penalties and attorney’s fees and costs.” 

New details obtained by Vice, reportedly show that the first lawsuit originated from crew members hired for Nebuchadnezzar, the second is being brought by the performers themselves. Reporting suggests that the legal action could amount to $1 million in damages against the artist. (Link via original reporting)

Both suits claim that Mr West misclassified the workers he hired; designating them as independent contractors, rather than employees. As a result, he avoided thousands of dollars in taxes in addition to Californian labour laws that would require him to provide workers with basic privileges.

Mr West and his team have yet to respond to the allegations.

The musical artist and producer Kanye West is facing two class-action lawsuits from workers at his live Christian opera Nebuchadnezzar. The suits detail grievances surrounding the workers’ pay and treatment while employed on the show, NME reports.

Mr West is accused of failing to pay minimum wage and overtime, owing “unpaid wages” and refusing to provide appropriate meal and rest breaks when he hosted a series of shows at The Hollywood Bowl in 2019.

Nebuchadnezzar had its premiere in November 2019, a second Christian opera - Mary - was staged a month later. According to documents obtained by The Blast, Kanye West and the production’s promoters Live Nation are being sued by multiple workers. They allege “unpaid wages, continuing wages, damages, civil penalties, statutory penalties and attorney’s fees and costs.” 

New details obtained by Vice, reportedly show that the first lawsuit originated from crew members hired for Nebuchadnezzar, the second is being brought by the performers themselves. Reporting suggests that the legal action could amount to $1 million in damages against the artist. (Link via original reporting)

Both suits claim that Mr West misclassified the workers he hired; designating them as independent contractors, rather than employees. As a result, he avoided thousands of dollars in taxes in addition to Californian labour laws that would require him to provide workers with basic privileges.

Mr West and his team have yet to respond to the allegations.