Kanye West’s Sunday Service gospel choir has been stripped of its charity status.
Kanye West’s Sunday Service gospel choir has been stripped of its charity status
The scandal-mired rapper, 47, who is facing lawsuits from former staff and was infamously dumped from a string of big-brand deals over his anti-Semitic outbursts, has now been hit with the ruling after failing to file tax returns for the group for three years.
According to the IRS website, the gospel group’s tax exemption status was revoked on 15 May “for not filing a Form 990-series return or notice for three consecutive years”, The US Sun has reported.
Sunday Service was formed by father-of-four Kanye in 2019, and it was initially given exemption from federal income tax as it was listed as what is known as a 501(c)(3) organisation.
They are classified as “religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, or prevention of cruelty to children or animals organisations”.
As of 12 August, the revocation of the charity status was still current.
When Kanye first kicked off the Sunday Service, the gospel choir performed with the Grammy winner every weekend.
Their first public performance came at the Coachella festival in 2019, and they have collaborated with Pastor Joel Osteen who hosted Kanye at the Lakewood Church, Houston, in November that year.
Tickets for the event were free, but holders resold them online for up to $500.
Kanye has faced legal issues with some of his Sunday Service members and staff – who filed class action lawsuits against the rapper in 2020 for alleged mistreatment.
At the time, more than 500 performers and around 300 crew members claimed the performer-turned fashion designer had violated California work laws by underpaying them and denying them food and restroom breaks.
Among them was Sunday Service performer Michael Pearson who alleged he was paid a flat day rate of $250 and was not permitted breaks.
He also claimed performers stood all day or sat on the floor and walked home when transport was not provided.
It was reported in June Kanye settled with the hundreds of Sunday Service performers and staff for $1.35 million, but they were seeking more than $10.5 million in damages.
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