Kanye West Testifies in Malibu Mansion Trial, Struggles to Remain Awake

Los Angeles, CA – Kanye West, now known as Ye, testified on Friday in a civil trial concerning a renovation project at his former Malibu mansion, repeatedly yawning and appearing to struggle to stay awake although on the stand. The trial centers on allegations that the artist failed to fully compensate contractor Tony Saxon for his work on the property.

Sleepy Testimony and “I Don’t Recall” Responses

According to reports from Rolling Stone and NBC Los Angeles, Ye repeatedly yawned, closed his eyes for extended periods and at times appeared to nod off during his testimony. He responded with “I don’t recall” to numerous questions regarding the architecturally significant Malibu house he purchased in 2021 for $57 million and later sold at a loss.

The judge overseeing the trial asked the plaintiff’s attorney to “make things a little snappier” after observing Ye’s demeanor. At one point, the attorney reportedly mouthed “Is he asleep?” to a colleague.

The Dispute Over the Ando House Renovation

The lawsuit, filed by Tony Saxon, alleges that Ye agreed to pay $20,000 per week under a 2021 deal, but only provided one $20,000 payment and $100,000 for construction costs. Saxon claims he was forced to live on the mansion floor while acting as a security guard and was ultimately fired in November 2021 for not complying with requests that could have caused him injury.

The property, designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, was significantly altered during Ye’s ownership. Archinect reports that the mansion was “gutted” as Ye attempted to transform it into a self-sufficient, “off the grid” residence, stripping it down to a “concrete shell” and even proposing replacing a staircase with a slide.

Sale at a Loss and Ongoing Legal Issues

Ye sold the Malibu estate in 2024 for $21 million, taking a substantial financial loss. This trial is one of several legal challenges Ye is currently facing.