Kanye West Sued By Gap Over Alleged Damage to Yeezy Store in Los Angeles

The Gap is suing Kanye West over allegations that the rapper made unapproved changes to a Los Angeles retail location that resulted in an expensive lawsuit from the building’s owner.

In a complaint filed last month in Los Angeles court, the apparel giant claimed that West – and not Gap – is on the hook for a lawsuit filed last year by a company called Art City Center, the landlord who owns the retail space.

“Defendants made numerous alterations to the building at the subject premises without Gap’s approval, much less pursuant to the terms of the Agreement,” Gap’s lawyers wrote in an April 2 complaint. “The performance of the work not only breached the Strategic Agreement, but the manner of preparing for and performing the work caused the need for … repairs and restoration.”

Gap is one of many former business partners that split with West (sometimes known as Ye) and his Yeezy brand last year in the wake of antisemitic statements and other erratic behavior. The breakup was a particularly stark reversal, coming just a year after Gap announced a 10-year deal with West for a branded line called “Yeezy Gap.”

As part of that partnership, Gap agreed to open up to five retail locations for the Yeezy partnership, including one at 1360 East 6th Street in Los Angeles – the property owned by Art City Center.

In October, the landlord filed a lawsuit against Gap, claiming that the company had breached its lease agreement by making “numerous, significant, unapproved modifications” to the building. They included adding a ramp and a tunnel to the parking lot, removing three bathrooms, and removing lights that “led to additional damage to the ceiling and roof caused by water/rain.”

The company claimed that Gap owed $822,924 and counting in “holdover” damages – 150 percent of monthly rent for every month in which the building has been out of its “original condition” – and another $470,350 from the work that would be required to undo the alleged damage.

In its new complaint against West, Gap says the terms of their agreement require him indemnify the company against such legal claims.

“The Gap denies that it has any liability to [Art City],” the company wrote. “However, if the Gap does have any such liability, any damages allegedly sustained by plaintiff, if any, were the result of the actions or inactions of [West and Yeezy].”

West could not immediately be located for comment.

Gap is not the only former Kanye business partner now facing legal problems. Last month, Adidas was hit with a class action lawsuit claiming the sportswear giant knew about West‘s problematic “personal behavior” years prior to ending its partnership with the disgraced rapper but failed to warn investors about it. That case is pending.