Kanye West is currently facing a lawsuit from security guard Jonathan Monroe, who claims he was not compensated for his work at West’s Malibu home. According to legal documents obtained by Newsafro.com, Monroe alleges he was hired in August 2021 with a promise of $30 per hour for security services during a renovation project. He states that he worked between 36 to 50 hours a week but was fired after inquiring about his unpaid wages.
Jonathan Monroe has claimed in court that Kanye West never compensated him for his work as a security guard at a Malibu property. Monroe stated that after he voiced concerns over unpaid wages, he was terminated from his position in October 2021. He is now suing West for unpaid wages, interest, and punitive damages, nearly three years after the alleged unpaid work.The lawsuit underscores Monroe’s assertion that he never received any payment for the hours he dedicated to the job . This legal action adds to the ongoing challenges West faces amid controversies that have affected his career.
In July, Kanye West sold his Malibu mansion after significantly reducing the asking price by $14 million, ultimately closing the deal at around $21 million. Initially purchased in 2021 for $57 million and designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the property features four bedrooms and five bathrooms but remained under renovation. Reports noted that the house was left gutted, lacking windows, plumbing, and electricity.
West had ambitious plans for the home, including creating a “bomb shelter” and a “Batcave,” but the construction work was never completed. The mansion was originally listed for $53 million, but West dropped the price to $39 million in April before finally selling it .
In July, photos revealed that Kanye West’s Malibu mansion had its glass windows removed, exposing empty concrete walls and floors. West enlisted Jason Oppenheim, a realtor from Selling Sunset, to assist in selling the property, which Oppenheim described as “basically a blank canvas” for potential buyers .
Originally purchased for $57 million in late 2021, the house was intended to be remodeled into a ‘bomb shelter’ but faced numerous challenges. This endeavor led to legal troubles, including a lawsuit from security guard Jonathan Monroe, who claims he was not paid for his work, and another lawsuit from Tony Saxon, the project’s former manager, who alleges he was fired after raising safety concerns .
West’s plans for the mansion have drawn criticism, particularly his decision to remove essential features like windows and electricity in favor of a bunker-like design .
Tony Saxon, who served as the project manager, caretaker, and security for Kanye West’s Malibu home, claimed he was forced to sleep on the floor during his time working there. According to Saxon’s lawsuit, he was only compensated for one week of his work before being fired in November 2021 after he refused to comply with West’s demands to remove essential features like the home’s windows and electricity.
Saxon alleges that West’s vision for the house included creating a “bomb shelter from the 1910s” by demolishing existing bathrooms and eliminating plumbing and electrical systems. He even suggested that West wanted to replace stairs with slides. Saxon characterized the project as more of an “art project” at first but later understood that West intended to live in the home. He described West’s desires for a dark, plant-filled space lit only by candles and battery-powered lights .
In his lawsuit, Saxon is seeking over $1 million in unpaid wages and damages, citing various labor code violations .
