Kanye West’s comeback tour has proven that not everyone holds his past against him in the same way, but that doesn’t mean that he’s in the clear. That’s especially true as he faces a copyright lawsuit filed by singer Alice Merton, whose song “Blindside” was sampled on Ye’s “Gun To My Head” without permission.
Per All Hip Hop, a judge struck down his request to remove references to his antisemitic remarks and comments on the Holocaust in the federal lawsuit. They described the claims as “immaterial, impertinent, and scandalous because they have no bearing on the alleged infringement and only serve to generate controversy in the press.” Ye’s legal team argued that his past comments have no relevance to the claims of unauthorized use of the sample.
On the other hand, Merton’s legal team said Ye’s comments “played heavily into [Merton’s] decision not to allow [Ye] to use [Merton’s] song.”
Ultimately, Ye’s request was denied because the judge found that the claims could help explain why Merton didn’t clear the sample in the first place, stating that they “may have some bearing on litigation.”
Kanye West Sued Over Vultures 2
Ye’s team argued that they asked BMG Rights Management to clear the song in February 2024, but Merton denied the request. Her side said that “the artist’s values are contrary to our values.” Still, Ye released the track on streaming services while BMG reportedly asked him to stop. Ye never responded, and a lawsuit was filed the following year.
What’s interesting is that the judge in the case also pointed to Ye’s history of copyright lawsuits as an indication that he’s well aware of the rules. He will have to respond to her lawsuit by October 23rd, 2026.
