Ye Testifies in Malibu Mansion Renovation Lawsuit

Ye, the rapper and designer formerly known as Kanye West, appeared to struggle with drowsiness during his testimony Friday in a Los Angeles courtroom, as a civil trial over the failed renovation of his former Malibu mansion entered its second week.

The proceedings center on a lawsuit filed by Tony Saxon, a 35-year-old handyman whom Ye hired in late 2021 as a project manager and round-the-clock security guard for the property. Saxon alleges he endured unsafe working conditions, including 16-hour workdays, while stripping the 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom concrete mansion of its windows, doors, electricity, plumbing and built-in features like a jacuzzi and fireplace. He claims Ye's constantly evolving vision for the home, which included transforming it into an off-grid, self-sufficient space with one set of stairs replaced by a slide, led to his severe neck and back injuries. Saxon further asserts he was paid only once during his seven weeks on the job, forced to sleep in a sleeping bag at the site, fired in retaliation after raising security concerns and left responsible for his own medical bills due to Ye's failure to provide workers' compensation insurance. He is seeking...