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(NewsNation) — Los Angelenos were a little shocked to see Ye, rapper formerly known as Kanye West, and his wife Bianca Censori holed up at the Chateau Marmont last week in various stages of dress (and, in Censori’s case, undress), wondering why the rapper, who has several homes in the area, would be staying at a hotel. But that’s because Ye is currently homeless, sources tell me.
His vast portfolio of real estate — including a house in Holmby Hills across the street from his ex, Kim Kardashian, an oceanfront property in Malibu, and a ranch in Wyoming — are currently all in alleged various stages of disrepair and neglect.
“Kanye has been having financial difficulties since Adidas dropped him,” my source said.
In 2022, Adidas broke up its lucrative partnership with Ye, dropping the Yeezy shoe line (and billions of dollars) after severe misconduct came to light. According to the New York Times, West subjected Adidas and Yeezy employees to “antisemitic and sexually offensive comments, displayed erratic behavior, and issued ever-escalating demands.” Ye was also said to have shown employees pornography, drank at work, lovingly quoted Hitler, called Black Lives Matter a “scam” started selling “White Lives Matter” shirts, and promised to go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” before he was finally fired.
The loss of his main source of revenue has hurt West’s real estate dreams. According to the Daily Mail, all his properties in California and Wyoming are in a state of neglect and disrepair. In the case of the Malibu home, which he gutted and has been trying to sell for a $4 million loss, the property has a lien.
Hence, the Chateau Marmont — as hotels, unlike banks, take credit cards for payment.
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Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, attends the Givenchy Spring-Summer 2023 fashion show during the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week, in Paris, on October 2, 2022. (Photo by Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images) -
FILE – Kanye West arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Feb. 9, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who has a long history of making antisemitic comments, apologized to the Jewish community in an Instagram post written in Hebrew on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. “I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions,” Ye wrote. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) -
Kanye West and Bianca Censori at Marni RTW Fall 2024 as part of Milan Ready to Wear Fashion Week held on February 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty Images) -
FILE – Kanye West, left, and Kim Kardashian attend the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Nov. 6, 2019, in New York. Kardashian and Ye, who legally changed his name from Kanye West, have reached a settlement in their divorce, averting a trial that had been set for next month, court documents filed Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, showed. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) -
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, attends the Givenchy Spring-Summer 2023 fashion show during the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week, in Paris, on October 2, 2022. (Photo by Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images) -
Ye is seen, outside Kenzo, during Paris Fashion Week – Menswear F/W 2022-2023, on January 23, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
As one manager at Adidas said on a group chat: “(West) doesn’t understand how his money works.”
Meanwhile, West has another major drain on his finances — the multitude of lawsuits against him involving his Donda Academy school. Last year, three teachers at the academy sued, claiming they were unfairly fired after complaining about conditions at the school, including violations of educational codes as well as health and safety concerns. That lawsuit claims the teachers were subject to constant bullying and pay discrepancies. In the latest lawsuit filed on Tuesday, former employee Trevor Phillips claims he suffered discrimination and harassment while working for West. According to the complaint, “In front of the schoolchildren, Kanye continued his dangerous rhetoric. Kanye started to openly discuss how he only likes to date white women…Then addressing the two school children, Kanye told them that he wanted them to shave their heads and that he intended to put a jail at the school — and that they could be locked in cages. The staff quickly distracted the children, and escorted them out of the room.”
In addition, West allegedly spent $2 million earmarked for the school on a luxury trip to Paris, taught antisemitism, praised Hitler to children and would fire anyone he deemed “fat.”
Side note: Shout out to Lil Durk
While West is on a downward spiral, another Chicago rapper is trying to lift his community. Drake’s best friend Lil Durk is giving back to his Chicago neighborhood through education. Durk, along with his foundation Neighborhood Heroes, sent 19 exceptional high school juniors and senior students from Chicago and brought them to St. John’s University, in Queens, New York, from April 2 to 4, 2024. According to Durk’s publicist, Shawn Zanotti, the students will be outfitted with “business attire” and given “intensive” business preparation classes as well as headshots and LinkedIn profiles to help ensure their chances of getting into college and a job after they get out. The trip is meant to inspire success and “open doors.” Bravo!
