Kanye West sued by German singer-songwriter Alice Merton for copyright infringement
Kanye West is being sued for copyright infringement by singer-songwriter Alice Merton, who claims the rapper sampled her song without permission after her request for him to refrain, citing his controversial remarks.
The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court and reviewed by Variety, alleges that West used Merton's 2022 track "Blindside" in his song 'Gun to My Head,' which features Ty Dolla $ign and Kid Cudi. Merton was 'shocked and humiliated' when West previewed the track at a "Vultures" listening event in December 2023, and subsequently released it as part of the deluxe edition of Vultures 2 in August 2024.
Merton, who gained fame with her 2017 hit 'No Roots,' claims West first approached her publisher, BMG, in February 2024, seeking approval to sample 'Blindside.' After she denied the request due to his antisemitic and racist remarks, West's team asked for an explanation. Merton's representatives explained that her refusal was based on his values being incompatible with hers, especially due to her family's history with the Holocaust.
Following the release of Vultures 2, Merton's fans reportedly harassed her, blaming her for the song's absence from the original tracklist, and she became fearful for her safety, particularly regarding potential violence. Merton stopped performing "Blindside" at her shows due to safety concerns. Despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter from BMG, which West ignored, Merton is now seeking legal action.
This lawsuit adds to a growing list of copyright infringement cases against West, with previous lawsuits filed by Ozzy Osbourne and Donna Summer's estate for similar issues.
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