Dispute Over Malibu Renovation Dominates Courtroom as Kanye West Trial Continues
A civil lawsuit involving Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, moved into another tense phase this week as testimony continued in Los Angeles over renovation work at the artist’s Malibu property.
The case centers on Tony Saxon, a construction worker who claims he was improperly terminated and injured while working on the demolition and restructuring of a beachfront house designed by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Saxon filed suit in 2023, alleging that he was misclassified as an independent contractor and that proper workplace protections, including workers’ compensation coverage, were not provided.
During testimony in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, Saxon faced a prolonged cross-examination from Ye’s attorney, Andrew Cherkasky. The defense argued that Saxon had misrepresented key aspects of his claim and suggested he had attempted to mislead the court.
Cherkasky raised concerns about an Instagram video referenced earlier in the trial, alleging Saxon deleted the post after it was discussed in court. Outside the presence of the jury, the defense attorney argued that the alleged deletion amounted to serious misconduct and requested that the case be dismissed. Judge Brock T. Hammond declined to issue an immediate ruling, instead allowing the defense to pursue the matter through questioning.
Once the jury returned, Cherkasky repeatedly pressed Saxon on whether he had removed the video. Saxon said he had no recollection of deleting any posts and denied the accusation. The exchange grew contentious, prompting the judge to instruct the defense to moderate its tone.
Saxon testified that the trial had been emotionally difficult and said he was attempting to answer questions as accurately as possible despite the passage of time since the events in question. He acknowledged that recalling details from several years earlier had been challenging.
The disputed video included comments Saxon made during an interview with the ABC News program Nightline, in which he said the work left him with a “broken” neck. The defense argued that the statement was exaggerated. Saxon told jurors he used the phrase figuratively to describe an injury that caused persistent pain rather than a literal fracture.
The lawsuit alleges Saxon suffered back and neck injuries while performing demolition and management work at the Malibu property. According to his complaint, Ye failed to secure workers’ compensation coverage for the project and was later dismissed without proper compensation.
Financial transactions connected to Saxon’s work have also been examined closely during the trial. Saxon testified that he was promised $20,000 per week to oversee demolition work, coordinate contractors, and provide security at the site.
Court records show that Saxon received three wire transfers totaling $240,000 during the approximately seven weeks he worked on the project. Saxon said much of the money was used to pay laborers, purchase materials, and remove debris from the site.
Earlier court filings listed only two payments totaling $120,000. Saxon told jurors the omission was a mistake that occurred because he did not have access to certain bank records at the time the documents were prepared. He said he became aware of the third payment after retrieving statements earlier this year.
The defense questioned that explanation, suggesting the discrepancy indicated intentional concealment. Saxon denied that claim and maintained that the earlier filing simply reflected incomplete financial records.
The court also heard testimony from Milo Yiannopoulos, who said he has worked intermittently with Ye in recent years. Yiannopoulos testified that he witnessed Cherkasky recording the Instagram post earlier this year to document its existence as part of the defense’s evidence.
Additional testimony addressed the work performed at the property itself. Plumber Robert Ibanez told jurors he was instructed to remove plumbing from the house because Ye intended to transform the property into a bunker-like structure disconnected from municipal water and sewer systems. Ibanez said he received approximately $8,000 in payments from Saxon for plumbing work.
Another witness, musician Joel Giron, testified about performing in a band with Saxon in 2022. Jurors watched footage of a live performance in which Saxon appeared energetic on stage. Giron said, however, that Saxon often moved with visible discomfort and had previously complained about physical pain.
The property at the center of the dispute has since been sold. Ye purchased the oceanfront house for roughly $57 million but sold it in September 2024 for $21 million to investor Steve “Bo” Belmont. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Belmont said he intends to restore the residence to its original architectural design.
Jurors will ultimately determine whether Saxon functioned as an employee or an independent contractor. That distinction is central to the case because it affects whether labor protections and compensation requirements should have applied.
The trial is expected to conclude next week. Both Ye and his wife, Bianca Censori, are anticipated to testify before the proceedings move to closing arguments.
