Kanye West Allegedly Held Composer in School to Write Opera Music
American rapper Kanye West allegedly held opera singer and composer Chaz Taylor in a locked school to have him write music for an opera about the biblical king Nebuchadnezzar.
Consensus
- Chase Taylor, an opera singer and composer, claims he was detained in a school in Cody, Wyoming.
- Kanye West's producer transported Taylor to a school and locked him in a classroom.
- Taylor was not allowed to leave the room without permission, including for bathroom breaks.
- Taylor was required to compose music for an opera about King Nebuchadnezzar.
- The opera was to premiere on November 24, 2019.
- Taylor was given only four days to complete the music and prepare dozens of performers.
- Many of the performers had no prior experience with opera or reading sheet music.
- Taylor was promised a generous fee, continued collaboration with West, credit as producer, and participation in future productions.
- The promised rewards were not fulfilled.
- Taylor is seeking recognition of his authorship, profit share, compensation for unpaid labor, and damages for unlawful detention.
Points of divergence
- Taylor was also required to serve as musical director and train the performers. — vm
- The lawsuit also seeks compensation for alleged unlawful deprivation of liberty. — vm
- Kanye West and his former assistant Lauren Pishotta settled a separate legal dispute in September regarding allegations of harassment, with details undisclosed. — vm
Coverage (2 sources)
- RS: Kanye West locked up singer in school and forced him to compose music for opera — Вечерняя Москва
- Kanye West locked composer in school to compose music for his opera about biblical king Nebuchadnezzar. — РИА Новости (Telegram)