Former Project Manager Testifies Kanye West Ordered Him to Live at Malibu Construction Site
A former project manager suing Kanye West, now known as Ye, testified this week that the artist ordered him to live at a Malibu beachfront property during an aggressive renovation project and twice confronted him in the middle of the night, demanding to know why he was not working.
Tony Saxon, 35, took the stand Wednesday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom as the first witness in the civil trial stemming from his 2023 labor lawsuit. Saxon alleges he suffered injuries and was subjected to unsafe and retaliatory working conditions during a six-week period in late 2021 while overseeing demolition work at the oceanfront home.
Jurors were shown a photograph of Saxon’s makeshift sleeping arrangement: a thin mattress placed on bare concrete flooring beside bottled water and nutritional drinks. Saxon testified that on one occasion, he awoke around 3 or 4 a.m. to find Ye standing over him.
“He stood over me and asked, ‘Why are you not working?’” Saxon told the court. “I said, ‘I have to sleep sometime.’”
According to Saxon, Ye chuckled in response, and the working relationship continued despite the incident. Text messages displayed to the jury showed frequent exchanges between the two men, including affectionate sign-offs and heart emojis. Saxon described the dynamic as at times friendly, but also unpredictable and intense.
Saxon testified that he was hired in September 2021 to oversee demolition and remodeling work on the property, a $57.3 million Malibu mansion designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Ye allegedly wanted to strip the poured-concrete structure to its core and transform it into what Saxon described as an “open-concept, off-the-grid bunker.”
According to Saxon, Ye directed that electrical wiring, plumbing systems, windows, glass panels, a jacuzzi, fire pits, and chimneys be removed. The project included installing generators to power the home independently of municipal utilities. Saxon testified that Ye emphasized maintaining discretion because no building permits had been obtained.
“He said it was extremely important we keep everything under the radar,” Saxon told the jury.
In court, defense attorney Andrew Cherkasky argued that Saxon was an independent contractor and not an employee, and that he was unlicensed to perform the scope of work involved. Cherkasky contended that Saxon himself sought to keep the project inconspicuous out of concern that inspectors would discover he lacked proper licensing.
Text messages presented in court included one from Saxon suggesting they “chill for a bit on major noise outside until Monday.” Saxon testified he sent the message after Ye expressed concern about attracting attention.
Saxon further alleged that Ye required him to remain on the property continuously after a night watchman was dismissed. “Stay here now. You can’t leave,” Ye allegedly told him, according to his testimony.
The plaintiff also described moments of unexpected kindness. He recounted that after several days without showering, Ye drove him to the Nobu Hotel in a Lamborghini belonging to his then-wife, Kim Kardashian, and ran a bath for him.
Saxon claims he later sustained a severe back injury while dismantling chimney structures using a pulley system. Defense counsel argued that no medical records substantiate the injury and questioned the timing of Saxon’s claims.
The lawsuit alleges labor code violations and retaliation, including that Saxon was fired after raising safety concerns about carbon monoxide risks posed by large generators installed on the property. Ye’s legal team disputes those allegations.
The trial is expected to continue for approximately two more weeks. Ye and his wife, Bianca Censori, are anticipated to testify. At least nine of the 12 jurors must agree to reach a verdict.
The case is the first of several civil complaints filed by former employees against Ye to proceed to trial in recent years.
