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Kanye West’s fashion brand has been ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to a Brooklyn creative director who claimed she was stiffed over a photoshoot featuring the controversial rapper.

Yeezy — the fashion arm behind Ye, formerly known as Kanye West — must fork over $300,000 to freelancer Katelyn Mooney after failing to respond to her lawsuit, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Gerald Lebovits ruled.

Mooney, an established creative director in the fashion industry, sued Yeezy in December 2022, claiming the popular brand owed her nearly $100,000 after hiring her to shoot its founder and new sunglasses line SHDZ.

She delivered the final digital photos on Sept. 14, but was allegedly only paid $15,000 of the $110,000 — despite having agreed to the amount in text messages with Yeezy employees and sending invoices, according to her lawsuit.

Mooney, a mother of three, said she had to take out loans and “max out her credit cards” to cover rent and other bills after not receiving payments for the two months that followed the shoot, her suit states.

Lebovits issued a default ruling against West’s brand on Monday, finding Yeezy responsible for the claims, after no lawyer was entered on the docket for the fashion line and it never responded to court papers.


  Yeezy must pay over $300,000 to freelancer Katelyn Mooney after failing to respond to her lawsuit. Katelyn Mooney/LinkedIn Yeezy must pay over $300,000 to freelancer Katelyn Mooney after failing to respond to her lawsuit. Katelyn Mooney/LinkedIn

  Mooney claimed she was stiffed over a photoshoot featuring West. Yeezy Mafia/Instagram Mooney claimed she was stiffed over a photoshoot featuring West. Yeezy Mafia/Instagram


  Yeezy is the fashion arm behind Kanye West. GC Images Yeezy is the fashion arm behind Kanye West. GC Images

  Mooney was allegedly only paid $15,000 of the $110,000 for the digital photos. Yeezy Mafia/Instagram Mooney was allegedly only paid $15,000 of the $110,000 for the digital photos. Yeezy Mafia/Instagram

The amount includes around $95,000 in actual damages plus some $205,000 in statutory damages, according to the judgment.

The action was brought under freelance laws that protect independent workers.

Mooney’s lawyer declined to comment. Yeezy didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

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