Kanye West’s legal troubles are mounting. A former security guard has filed court documents seeking nearly $1 million from the rapper, alleging months of unpaid wages and a bizarre incident involving a Lamborghini and a request for gas money. The Kanye West security guard lawsuit adds to a growing list of financial and professional setbacks for the embattled artist.
According to court document, Jonathan Monroe claims he worked full-time for Ye in 2021. He says he was never properly paid for his hours, nor did he receive required overtime compensation. Now, he’s asking a judge to step in.
The breakdown of Monroe’s request totals approximately $850,000. That includes $7,725 for unpaid overtime, $37,620 in lost wages, $500,000 in lost earnings, $100,000 for pain and suffering, and another $100,000 in punitive damages.
In his original filing, Monroe described a pattern of being given the run-around whenever he tried to collect what he was owed. One anecdote stands out: Ye allegedly asked Monroe to fill up the tank of his Lamborghini. When Monroe asked for cash or a credit card to cover the expense, Ye reportedly “walked away from me without a response”.
This isn’t the first time Ye has faced court action over employee pay. As previously reported, another ex-employee named Tony Saxon was awarded $140,000 in an unrelated lawsuit against the rapper.
The Kanye West security guard lawsuit comes at a particularly chaotic time. London’s Wireless Festival recently scrapped its entire event after sponsors began pulling out, largely due to Ye being announced as the headliner. Additionally, the British government reportedly denied the rapper entry into the UK, making performance impossible regardless.
Monroe claims he attempted to resolve the matter privately before heading to court. His legal team argues that the unpaid wages and emotional toll warrant the six-figure sum. Ye has not yet filed a public response to the allegations.
As the case moves forward, it raises larger questions about how the rapper manages or fails to manage his financial obligations to the people working around him. For now, Monroe joins a growing list of former employees demanding their day in court.
