No matter how hard Kanye tries, he just can’t seem to stay out of the news. Today, he filed 10 million dollar lawsuit regarding his canceled Saint Pablo tour due to his mental breakdown. (This is in addition to the TIDAL-related lawsuit he is also embroiled in.) According to West and his company, Very Good Touring, Inc, they have not been paid by their insurer despite loss claims being filed over 8 months ago.
West’s managers set up coverage with Lloyd’s of London Insurance Company before the tour for “peace of mind” in case cancellations needed to occur. A string of memorable instances during the tour from Kim Kardashian’s robbery to Kanye’s multiple political rants pointed to potential issues. These problems culminated on November 21st when West was hospitalized and placed on psychiatric hold, cancelling the remaining 21 tour dates.
One of Kanye’s most famous rants (no easy title) on November 17 in San Jose. In over an hour of ranting, he spoke on issues of race and politics, even saying that he would have voted for Donald Trump.
The lawsuit attributes all of the erratic behavior and cancelled dates to the fact that Kanye suffered a “suffered a debilitating medical condition that required he not tour,” as testified by his primary physician. Yet, according to West and his team, the insurance company still refuses to pay. “Nor have they provided anything approaching a coherent explanation about why they have not paid, or any indication if they will ever pay or even make a coverage decision, implying that Kanye’s use of marijuana may provide them with a basis to deny the claim and retain the hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance premiums paid by Very Good.”
The court documents detailing all the efforts Kanye has been making to get paid are extensive. Lloyd’s of London is said to be bringing “irrelevant facts” into discussion including potential drug use and song lyrics. West is additionally accusing the insurance company of violating a non-disclosure agreement and leaking information to the press.
Howard King, Kanye’s lawyer, writes, “Performing artists who pay handsomely to insurance companies within the Lloyd’s of London marketplace to obtain show tour ‘non-appearance or cancellation’ insurance should take note of the lesson to be learned from this lawsuit: Lloyd’s companies enjoy collecting bounteous premiums; they don’t enjoy paying claims, no matter how legitimate.”
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