Kanye West has decided to close down his Yews News platform within under a year of its launch. At the same time, his fashion enterprise has drastically reduced prices on all products to a mere $20.
The controversial rapper introduced his news website in December, initially accessible solely through mobile devices. Within the interface were drop-down menus labeled 10 am, 3 pm, and 8 pm, offering various content spanning fashion, politics, and updates on West's career following his abrupt exit.
Per The Sun, original content was scarce on the site, which primarily sourced news from prominent publications, occasionally accompanied by unexpected religious imagery.
In place of the once vibrant and professionally curated website, a stark, empty image with the message "No items found" now stands. The account on X, which previously kept up with the website, notes that the latest news updates were in late April, according to their X page.
Before the launch, West initiated trademark filings for "Yews," covering a wide range of sectors like education, advertising, banking services, music streaming, television, beauty products, food and beverages, gaming, apparel, footwear, kitchenware, alcoholic drinks, and beyond.
The "Donda" hitmaker's recent hiatus from sharing news articles remains a mystery, while alterations have been observed on his Yeezy fashion website during this time. To attract more customers, West has significantly reduced the prices of his merchandise, offering T-shirts, jogging pants, and sweatshirts at a bargain price of just $20 each.
This comes after a legal filing at a US District Court where a lawsuit has been brought against West and his wife, Bianca Censori. The legal action claims that West and his ex-chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, were involved in a harmful and toxic workplace environment during the production of an app to support West's music career.
As outlined in the legal complaint reviewed by TMZ, West and Yiannopoulos engaged the services of a global development team comprising individuals of African descent and minors as young as 14. The lawsuit alleges that Ye aimed to circumvent the need to compensate these firms for marketing his latest music projects, Vultures and Vultures 2. In their daily work routines, the remote-based team members maintained steady communication channels with West, Yiannopoulos, and their colleagues through various digital tools like Discord, Zoom, and Slack.
However, the working conditions deteriorated as supervisors hired by West, who were predominantly white, reportedly fostered a toxic workplace environment for the international and minority staff through the use of derogatory language.
Allegations surfaced claiming that employees, some of whom were underage, were coerced into laboring extensive hours without compensation or breaks, subjected to racial slurs, and dehumanized by being labeled as "modern-day slaves."
It was further alleged that Censori shared inappropriate content with a colleague, which inadvertently exposed minors to explicit material while working on the app.
Following the app's completion on May 1, 2024, the team showcased their work to West, only to find themselves without compensation. Subsequently, the workers have initiated legal action to claim unpaid wages, overtime pay, and compensation for emotional hardship.
READ MORE: Kanye West Slapped With New Bombshell Lawsuit Over Alleged Horrifying Treatment Toward Employees
