Kanye West Sued By LA Mission Volunteer Over Video of Rapper’s Visit to Skid Row
A volunteer is dragging Kanye to federal court.
Oct. 24 2023, Published 2:20 p.m. ET
Kanye West has been dragged to federal court by a volunteer at the Los Angeles Mission which the rapper visited in 2021.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, a man named Elijah Graham has filed a lawsuit against West for copyright infringement.
West is facing new legal troubles.
Graham said he is an “event planner volunteer” for the non-profit that helps provide meals, hot showers and safe shelter for the homeless.
In his suit, Graham said West showed up at the Los Angeles Mission for a Thanksgiving event on November 24, 2021.
West is being sued for $2 million by his ex-business partners in a separate lawsuit.
Graham said he filmed a video of West speaking at the event.
He said West somehow obtained his video and used it to advertise his fashion brand and music. “Defendant profits from these activities,” the lawsuit read.
The suit claimed, “[West], without permission or authorization from [Graham], actively copied and/or displayed [Graham’s] video on the Account and engaged in this misconduct knowingly and in violation of the United States copyright laws.”
He said West’s using the footage resulted in him being unable to sell the material — since it was no longer exclusive.
West and Censori were caught in a 'lewd' act on a water taxi in Venice, Italy.
The volunteer has demanded unspecified damages from West.
At the event, West preached to the crowd about God.
“The narrative God wants is to see that we can be redeemed in all these relationships,” West said. “We’ve made mistakes. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve publicly done things that were not acceptable as a husband, but right now today, for whatever reason — I didn’t know I was going to be in front of this mic — but I’m here to change the narrative.”
He added, “I have to be next to my children as much as possible. So, when I’m out the house, I’ve got a house right next to the house. I’m doing everything to be right next to the situation…I’m trying to express this in the most sane way, the most calm way possible, but I need to be back home.”
At the time, West said he planned to help the homeless population in Los Angeles. He had a meeting with the CEO of the mission, Troy Vaughn.
In late 2022, sources told TMZ that the mission was frustrated with West for failing to deliver on his promises to help.
As RadarOnline.com first reported, West is still facing a separate $2 million lawsuit filed by his ex-business partners at The Gap.