Ye Lawsuit: Musician Says He Was Locked in Wyoming HS to Write ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ Opera

Musician Chase Taylor has sued Ye, alleging he was locked in a Wyoming high school band room and made to compose the opera Nebuchadnezzar from scratch. The civil case matters because Taylor also claims he was promised compensation and credit, but has not been properly paid for work he says Ye later used.

Taylor says the opera had no music, score, lyrics or plan when he arrived, and was due to be performed in four days by more than 150 people. His lawsuit alleges Ye’s staff ignored requests for food, water, rest and an unlocked door; Ye has not been accused of a crime, and his spokesman had not commented. The opera premiered once at the Hollywood Bowl in November 2019, and another musician’s related case remains pending; a separate workers’ class action settled for $1.35 million in 2024.