A new lawsuit against Kanye West claims the rapper owes $7.1 million in unpaid fees to a production company that worked on his 'Donda 2' album launch event, as well as his canceled appearance at this year's ' Coachella."
In the lawsuit filed Thursday, July 14, in a Los Angeles court, lawyers for Phantom Labs say the design and production company "faithfully performed" the work requested by Kanye West, using "countless man hours," while also paying advance payments. to many suppliers.
"After each event, Ye and his representatives promised that if Phantom continued work on the budgeted and approved projects, Phantom would be immediately paid for the balance and new work," he wrote. in the lawsuit is Howard King, a well-known entertainment attorney who represents Phantom.
“The latest developments have made it clear that the defendants have no intention of repaying Phantom. Despite receiving multiple letters from Phantom demanding compensation, the defendants inexplicably continue to delay payment,” King added.
In a statement, a representative for Phantom said the lawsuit was the last resort for the production company.
“We're incredibly proud of the work we've done with Ye, and we're disappointed that such a fruitful relationship has come to this point. "For a celebrity to use their fame and fortune as a weapon to take advantage of willing partners is simply unacceptable," he said.
Kanye West
According to Phantom's lawsuit, the company also worked for four weeks to produce performances by Sunday Service, the gospel choir fronted by Kanye West, as well as Ye and Drake's "Free Larry Hoover" concert in Los Angeles Coliseum.
The company says it has been paid millions in fees over the years, but notes that it began to accumulate a "significant number of overdue invoices" as time went on.
Phantom claimed she continued to work with Kanye West, even after his much-publicized departure from this year's 'Coachella' music festival schedule, in the hope that the outstanding balance would be paid.
"A few weeks after promising to reimburse Phantom for the reported $9 million he would receive for his appearance at 'Coachella,' Ye abruptly pulled out of the festival," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit notes that by pulling out of the festival, Kanye West "not only broke his promise to repay the balance of multi-million dollar debts owed to Phantom, but also saddled Phantom with an additional $1.1 million in cancellation fees related to with “Coachella” and other expenses arising from the execution of work at “Coachella” at the request of the defendants”.
In total, Phantom claims it is owed $7,154,177, plus interest.
