A former employee who sued the artist formerly known as Kanye West—now legally Ye—has been awarded $76,245 in attorney fees following the rapper’s failed attempt to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds of free speech. The decision marks the latest development in a high-profile legal battle that has drawn attention for its allegations of harassment and controversial First Amendment claims.
Court documents obtained by Complex confirm that the unnamed plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, had originally sought $99,720 in legal fees and costs. A Los Angeles court awarded her a substantial portion of the amount at a hearing on Thursday, September 11, after reviewing prior decisions in the case.
In his written ruling, Judge Nicholas F. Daum sided with Doe, citing the earlier finding that Ye’s motion to strike the lawsuit amounted to a baseless stalling tactic. The court rejected Ye’s legal team’s attempts to delay the fee order, arguing that any appeal over the First Amendment issue could take a year or longer, and that Ye retained the right to appeal the attorney fee award separately if he chose.
Kanye West’s attorney, Andrew Cherkasky, had argued that the court should hold off on the fee order until an appellate review of the rapper’s First Amendment defense, suggesting that the case raised complex free speech considerations. “We certainly do think there are very interesting First Amendment issues that could lead to additional appeals,” Cherkasky said following the hearing. He added that, should the appellate court uphold the underlying lawsuit, the legal team “intends to aggressively move along with litigation.”
The lawsuit itself dates back to February 2025, when Jane Doe filed suit detailing her experience working for Ye during 2023 and 2024. According to the complaint, Doe was subjected to repeated harassment, including text messages such as “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler,” and being ordered to assist with a project referred to as Yeezy Porn.
Employee Wins $76,245 in Attorney Fees After Kanye West’s Free Speech Defense Fails
Doe alleged that she was terminated after reporting Ye’s behavior to her then-manager, prompting the lawsuit that claimed wrongful termination and harassment. In April, Ye filed a motion to strike the complaint, arguing that Doe’s claims were an attempt to “suppress” his constitutionally protected right to artistic expression. The filing described Ye as not merely a creator but “art,” asserting that his public and private personas were part of a continuous, provocative performance designed to challenge societal taboos surrounding race, religion, gender, power, politics, and censorship.
The court, however, was unconvinced. In June 2025, Judge Theresa M. Traber denied Ye’s motion to strike, stating that the defense was “rife with defects, specious arguments, and misstatements of law.” The ruling cleared the way for the lawsuit to proceed and paved the way for Doe to recover attorney fees, which are often awarded when a court finds that a defendant’s legal tactics were improper or unnecessarily delayed proceedings.
This case is not the first time Ye has faced legal scrutiny over allegations of harassment. Last year, former assistant Lauren Pisciotta filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the rapper. Pisciotta alleged that she was hired in 2021, subjected to explicit text messages, asked to delete her OnlyFans account, and ultimately terminated without receiving $3 million in severance. The pattern of complaints has raised public concern about Ye’s workplace conduct and the treatment of employees.
Legal experts note that attorney fees awards like the one granted to Jane Doe serve multiple purposes. They not only compensate plaintiffs for the financial burden of defending against improper legal tactics but also act as a deterrent against frivolous or obstructive motions. In this case, Ye’s failed First Amendment defense, which attempted to frame his behavior as artistic expression, did not shield him from the financial consequences of attempting to delay the lawsuit.
As the legal battle continues, Kanye West faces the possibility of additional appeals, particularly regarding the merits of the underlying harassment claims. However, the recent fee award underscores the court’s position that employees’ rights to a safe and lawful workplace outweigh attempts to cloak misconduct in constitutional defenses.
For Jane Doe, the ruling represents both a financial and symbolic victory, affirming that the court recognizes the seriousness of her allegations and the improper nature of Kanye West’s motions to dismiss. Meanwhile, the broader public continues to watch closely, as the case adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Ye’s professional conduct and the legal boundaries of artistic expression in the workplace.
With attorney fees now secured, attention will likely shift back to the substance of the lawsuit itself, as both sides prepare for what could be a prolonged legal battle in the coming months.
Source- Complex
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