Kanye West is sued for allegedly drugging and sexually abusing his former assistant during a Diddy studio session.
In an amended lawsuit that PEOPLE was able to access, Lauren Pisciotta, a 2021–2022 employee of West, claims that West engaged in "sexual battery" following the presentation of a drink that was contaminated with drugs. Pisciotta made similar claims in her first wrongful termination complaint against West, claiming that before being fired, he had sent her obscene texts, pictures, videos, and phone calls. She started collaborating with West in July 2021 on his album Donda as well as his Yeezy women's fashion brand.
On Saturday, October 12, PEOPLE requested response from West's attorney; the request was not immediately fulfilled.In a separate June 2024 complaint to PEOPLE, Pisciotta alleged more allegations, which were previously refuted by a lawyer for West, who also stated that "Ye will be filing a lawsuit against Ms. Pisciotta."
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Pisciotta claims that prior to working for West, the rapper and producer invited her to a studio session in Santa Monica, California, where "drinks were served to others in attendance, followed by an announcement that everybody had to drink if they wanted to stay." This is according to the now-amended complaint, which PEOPLE was able to obtain and file on October 8 in Los Angeles County Court.
The lawsuit claims that West and Combs co-hosted the studio session, and Pisciotta was invited along with a "former artist management client." Although Combs is listed as the event's co-host in the updated complaint, Pisciotta is not making any accusations against the former music tycoon, who is currently in
The document also claims that Pisciotta was given a drink "laced with an unidentifiable drug" by a studio assistant at West's request, and that after taking "a few small sips," she began to feel disoriented.
"As plaintiff began to slip into an altered and heavily impaired state, she felt less in control of her body and speech, and that is where plaintiff's memories of that night escape her," the complaint states.
For many years, West's former assistant believed she was made fun of and roofied during a work function. Much later, she claims the rapper brought up the night in question for the first time, after West hired Pisciotta to work as his chief of staff, assistant, and A&R representative. They "did kind of hook up a little one time," West said to Pisciotta during the chat, alluding to the night in the Santa Monica studio where the alleged assault occurred.
Pisciotta allegedly told West that she didn't recall the studio session, to which West reportedly chuckled and responded, saying, "Women love to say they don't remember," according to the complaint.
"Up until that very point, right before that very conversation, Plaintiff was unaware that she had been subjected to gender violence and sexual battery on that studio night by KANYE WEST a.k.a YE," the paperwork states.
The updated complaint states that Pisciotta was "overcome with immense shame, discomfort and utter disgust."
During a July 2021 "album workshop" at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco, Pisciotta claimed elsewhere in the complaint that West "aggressively pounded" on her hotel room door at six in the morning, woke her up, forced "his way into her room," and told her he needed to use her shower because his was broken. Later, according to Pisciotta, West came up to her and "dropped his towel," then "he attempted to aggressively thrust
"As plaintiff began to slip into an altered and heavily impaired state, she felt less in control of her body and speech, and that is where plaintiff's memories of that night escape her," the complaint states.
In the complaint, it states that Pisciotta awoke the next day "feeling physically ill and confused" and had "immense and embarrassment" over her inability to remember what had happened after she took the drink.
For many years, West's former assistant believed she was made fun of and roofied during a work function. Much later, she claims the rapper brought up the night in question for the first time, after West hired Pisciotta to work as his chief of staff, assistant, and A&R representative. They "did kind of hook up a little one time," West said to Pisciotta during the chat, alluding to the night in the Santa Monica studio where the alleged assault occurred.
Pisciotta allegedly told West that she didn't recall the studio session, to which West reportedly chuckled and responded, saying, "Women love to say they don't remember," according to the complaint.
"Up until that very point, right before that very conversation, Plaintiff was unaware that she had been subjected to gender violence and sexual battery on that studio night by KANYE WEST a.k.a YE," the paperwork states.
The updated complaint states that Pisciotta was "overcome with immense shame, discomfort and utter disgust."
During a July 2021 "album workshop" at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco, Pisciotta claimed elsewhere in the complaint that West "aggressively pounded" on her hotel room door at six in the morning, woke her up, forced "his way into her room," and told her he needed to use her shower because his was broken. Later, according to Pisciotta, West came up to her and "dropped his towel," then "he attempted to aggressively thrust
According to the complaint, Pisciotta "could not stomach the fact that she worked for the man who had sexually assaulted her against her will while she was drugged, who then successfully lured her back into his orbit by way of a job opportunity to sexually assault her all over again." Pisciotta has alleged that West sent her lewd messages and fired her from her Chief of Staff position at his various companies a month after she was promoted in September 2022.
In April 2024, a former worker of West's filed a separate complaint alleging that he experienced "severe discrimination [and] harassment" both at his Donda Academy school and while working for Yeezy. This week, a former employee also filed a complaint based on claims