Kanye West dismisses sexual harassment allegations against him as “baseless”, announces plans to countersue for “sexual coercion”

Kanye West has dismissed the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by his former assistant as “baseless”.

• READ MORE: With his “White Lives Matter” stunt, has Kanye West finally hit the point of no return? 

Lauren Pisciotta filed the lawsuit against the rapper yesterday (June 4), claiming he created a hostile work environment due to multiple inappropriate text messages he sent her during her employment. She also accused West of locking her in a room with him and masturbating next to her, amongst other instances of alleged sexual harassment.

Now, West has responded to the claims in a statement made to Rolling Stone via his legal representative. His representative has called Pisciotta’s accusations “baseless”. West apparently has plans to countersue Pisciotta, according to the publication.

“She was terminated for being unqualified, demanding unreasonable sums of money (including a $4 million annual salary) and numerous documented incidents of her lascivious, unhinged conduct,” the statement continued, further claiming that Pisciotta offered West sex on his birthday and sending him “unsolicited nude images.”

The statement also alleged it was “well documented” that Pisciotta used “sexual coercion” to demand “not only money by material items”, such as a Hermes Himalayan Diamond Birkin bag, a Lamborghini, and plastic surgery.

The representative also claimed Pisciotta engaged in “blackmail and extortion” after West denied her sexual advances, apparently demanding $60million from the rapper last year. The representative finally accused Pisciotta of fabricating her allegations to gain media attention.

Pisciotta did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment, but she shared an Instagram story yesterday that apparently read: “Your soul becomes aligned with freedom when you allow others the liberty to dislike you, judge you and disagree with you.”

The lawsuit from Pisciotta is the latest in a wave of allegations against the musician from former employees. In April, he was accused of racial discrimination from a former security guard.

Benjamin Deshon Provo claimed Black employees received “less favourable treatment than their White counterparts” under West, and also claimed West fired him after he refused to shave off his dreadlocks. NME has reached out to Ye’s representatives for comment.

Meanwhile, a former Yeezy and Donda Academy employee claimed the rapper threatened to “cage” students at the short-lived school. The lawsuit – filed by Trevor Phillips in April as well – accused West of numerous explosive allegations including verbal abuse, threatening physical violence and comparing himself to Hitler.

Representatives for Ye and attorneys for Donda Academy have not yet publicly responded to requests for comment.

In other news, Kanye West and Milo Yiannopoulos have parted ways over Yeezy Porn.

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