Kanye West Challenges Gap's $2M Lawsuit Alleging Contract Breach, Faults Former Business Associate
Rap artist Kanye West is calling for the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against him by former collaborator, The Gap, according to court papers obtained by RadarOnline.com. West has denied any malfeasance and is challenging the allegations presented in the case.
The litigation saga initiated with a lawsuit filed against The Gap by Art Center, a real estate company, in October 2022. Art Center, owner of a downtown Los Angeles property, alleged that The Gap violated their contractual agreement.
The Gap had initially leased the premises for one year from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, before extending the lease the following year. In the lease, The Gap had agreed to a monthly rent of $104k and promised not to modify or alter the building without prior consent.
Art Center claims The Gap defied the agreement by performing multiple significant alterations to the building without approval. By September 2022, Art Center said it was owed $822k in rent arrears, with the total outstanding amount growing by $164k per month plus additional damages, culminating in a total claim of $1.5 million.
The legal conflict arose around the time Kanye West terminated his business relationship with The Gap, blaming the company for falling short of its contractual commitments. In response, The Gap denied any fault and countersued West, claiming he breached their 2020 contract.
Gap's defense revolves around a provision within their agreement that renders them not responsible for any issues arising from Yeezy's (West's brand) actions or inactions. The clothing corporation accused West of modifying the building without their approval and asserted that these alterations necessitated the costly repairs and restorations detailed in the complaint.
The Gap is holding West accountable for any damages owed to Art Center and is seeking $2 million in compensatory damages from the prominent rapper.
West has since countered these claims, asserting that The Gap incurred no damages. He maintained that their 2020 agreement is either invalid or voidable, and argued that his own performance was justified, wholly or partially, due to The Gap's failure to uphold its contractual obligations. He accused them of breaching their 2020 agreement by not delivering the promised services.
He defended the alterations, arguing that they were, in fact, beneficial to the premises and were executed to serve the strategic agreement with The Gap. He also claimed that the property was improved by the modifications, including the construction of an ADA ramp.
West argued that he wouldn't have agreed to the deal with The Gap had he known they would sign a lease prohibiting alterations to the pop-up store premises. He requested the court dismiss the lawsuit and that The Gap cover his legal expenses.