Cheyenne Roundtree’s in-depth new Rolling Stone article provides further information on Kanye West’s clothing line and the alleged exploitation of its employees and contractors. According to several sources, individuals took employment thinking they had found their dream job; however, they soon discovered themselves in a “cult-like atmosphere” that included 12- to 15-hour workdays, irregular or delayed payments, and abrupt terminations for trivial infractions.
“Nothing has ever compared to the amount of chaos, the amount of stress and [the amount of] anxiety you go through working for Yeezy,” an Adidas x Yeezy senior team member told the magazine.
An ex-employee related a 2015 incident that happened at the Yeezy studio, just weeks before Kanye unveiled the company’s debut line. According to the source, West frequently played his own music in the area but whenever someone suggested he play something else, West asked for additional suggestions. Ye allegedly examined the room before picking out a worker and addressing their specific interests.
“I thought, ‘Oh, he’s a rapper, I should probably mention some rap,’” said the ex-staffer, who ultimately proposed Drake music. “Big mistake—the next day I was fired.”
Exclusive: More than a dozen Yeezy staffers describe Kanye's company as both a creative haven and a cult-like place where you could get intimidated and humiliated – and fired for liking Drake.https://t.co/7Pa6Ln4vXp
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) November 10, 2022