Kanye West Sued by Musician Who Says He Was Locked in Wyoming High School to Write Opera

By Nancy Dillon

Nancy Dillon

Kanye West is facing another lawsuit over his biblical opera Nebuchadnezzar, this time from an opera musician who claims he was locked inside a high school band room in Wyoming to compose music performed at the Hollywood Bowl in 2019.

In a new lawsuit obtained and first reported by Rolling Stone, plaintiff Chase Taylor alleges that Kanye West, now known as Ye, recruited him for a starring role in what Taylor believed was a completed opera. But when Taylor flew from North Carolina to Wyoming with less than a week to rehearse, he was taken to Cody High School, ushered into the band room, and locked inside, according to the complaint. Only after arriving did he learn that the opera was far from finished, he alleges. In addition to serving as the lead performer and soloist, Taylor was expected to compose much of the music and make the production “performance-ready in just four days,” the lawsuit claims.

“Defendants locked the door and ordered Taylor to work until the opera was done. To secure Taylor’s compliance, defendants including West promised lucrative compensation, producer credit, and future work,” the lawsuit states. Taylor and his lawyers say he objected to being confined, but his complaints were not addressed.

According to the filing, Taylor was tasked with managing other musicians who ended up sitting and sleeping on the floor of the cramped band room when they needed a break. He claims West and his employees also did not provide enough food for the more than 150 performers involved in what he describes as a rushed and chaotic production.

“Taylor objected to the abusive conditions and asked defendants [through West’s producer] to unlock the band room doors, provide sufficient food and water, and provide appropriate time off for the musicians to sleep. Defendants ignored these requests,” the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court in North Carolina after Taylor and West’s camp allegedly entered into an agreement in 2020 suspending legal deadlines for Taylor’s claims, a measure often used to give parties time to resolve disputes without litigation.

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It also follows a similar lawsuit filed by fellow musician Willie Alexander, who also claims he was lured to Wyoming for Nebuchadnezzar and was “shocked to discover that the opera had not been written at all.” Alexander alleges he, too, was “required to compose and arrange the opera, largely from scratch” under the same timeframe. His lawsuit includes claims of negligent and intentional misrepresentation, misappropriation of his likeness, and false promises that induced him to provide professional services at a reduced rate. Alexander’s lawsuit is still pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with a mandatory settlement conference set for Jan. 12, 2027.

In a separate legal dispute, Ye agreed to pay $1.35 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of hundreds of performers and other workers involved in the 2019 production of Nebuchadnezzar. A court granted final approval of the settlement in July 2025, and more than 600 class members received settlement checks, according to court filings obtained by Rolling Stone. A notice filed in May said that 257 checks, totaling $277,210, had not been cashed by the deadline. A hearing to review the status of the settlement is scheduled for Dec. 8.

In the latest lawsuit, Taylor alleges he also was persuaded to work at reduced rates under false pretenses. He claims West and his employees portrayed both Nebuchadnezzar and a second opera that he worked on, Mary, as charitable religious productions. He was told the proceeds would be used to “save souls,” but that was not the case, according to the complaint.

“Defendants repeatedly told Taylor that the operas were non-profit engagements performed for religious purposes. That was a lie. West and his co-defendant companies charged attendees for tickets, and, on information and belief, pocketed the profits,” the 45-page filing states.

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Attempts to reach a lawyer or spokesperson for Ye were not immediately successful Thursday.

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