Kanye West is facing serious allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, during a 2021 studio session he co-hosted with Sean "Diddy" Combs. Pisciotta, who worked for West from 2021 to 2022, made these claims in an amended lawsuit filed on October 8, 2024, as part of an ongoing wrongful termination case against the rapper. The new accusations further complicate West's legal woes, which include other ongoing lawsuits from former employees.
According to Pisciotta, the alleged assault took place during a studio session in Santa Monica, California, where West and Combs were hosting an event. The lawsuit alleges that during the session, West insisted that everyone present had to drink or leave the gathering. Pisciotta claims that her drink was spiked with an unknown drug, leaving her disoriented and impaired after only a few sips. "As plaintiff began to slip into an altered and heavily impaired state, she felt less in control of her body and speech," the complaint states. Pisciotta says her memory of the night is mostly blank after that point.
The following day, Pisciotta woke up feeling physically ill and confused, with no recollection of what had transpired. For years, she believed she had merely embarrassed herself in front of her client and West. It wasn't until much later-after she began working as West's assistant and Chief of Staff-that she says the rapper admitted to what had happened that night. West allegedly brought up the incident in conversation, telling Pisciotta that they "did kind of hook up a little one time." When Pisciotta told West she had no memory of the event, he allegedly laughed and responded, "Women love to say they don't remember."
Pisciotta claims that this revelation was both shocking and devastating, as she had no prior knowledge that she had been assaulted. "Up until that very point, I was unaware that I had been subjected to gender violence and sexual battery on that studio night by Kanye West," the amended lawsuit reads.
These new allegations are part of a broader legal battle between Pisciotta and West, who she previously accused of sending her explicit texts, pornographic photos, and videos, before wrongfully terminating her in 2022. In one particularly disturbing incident detailed in the complaint, Pisciotta alleges that West forced his way into her hotel room at 6 a.m. during an album workshop in San Francisco. According to Pisciotta, West claimed his shower was broken and demanded to use hers. After using the shower, he allegedly dropped his towel and attempted to force himself on her, ignoring her pleas to stop before eventually leaving the room after a brief apology.
Pisciotta's lawsuit also describes a toxic work environment filled with inappropriate behavior. She alleges that West frequently sent her lewd messages and exposed her to sexually explicit content during her time as his assistant. In the original complaint, filed in June 2024, Pisciotta accused West of locking them in a room together where he proceeded to masturbate in her presence before falling asleep.
West's legal team has vigorously denied all the allegations. "Ye will be filing a lawsuit against Ms. Pisciotta," his lawyer stated earlier this year, dismissing her claims as "baseless" and accusing her of blackmail. A representative for West has not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest allegations. Pisciotta's legal team insists that she was a victim of West's predatory behavior and is seeking justice.
While Sean "Diddy" Combs is mentioned as a co-host of the event, he is not accused of any wrongdoing in Pisciotta's lawsuit. However, Combs is currently facing his own legal troubles, including criminal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, for which he is awaiting trial.
This latest lawsuit is one of several legal challenges currently facing West. Earlier this year, a former employee filed a lawsuit against him, claiming severe discrimination and harassment while working for Yeezy and at his Donda Academy. West is also facing another lawsuit for emotional distress, retaliation, and labor code violations.
As the allegations against West continue to mount, the case sheds further light on the controversies surrounding the once-revered artist. If found liable in this latest lawsuit, it could add to the growing list of legal issues that have tarnished West's career and public image.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for support.
