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06 Jul 2023

Drake Gets Hit By Phone Thrown Onstage During Tour Kickoff

The string of artists getting hit by objects onstage continues, as Drake fell victim to the ridiculous, dangerous trend on Wednesday night (July 5).

The rapper took the stage at Chicago’s United Center for the opening night of his long-awaited It’s All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage, when he was hit in the arm by a cell phone.

In a TikTok video capturing the moment, Drizzy was Ginuwine’s “So Anxious” when the phone hit him. Drake then looked at his hand, before continuing the performance like a pro.

Bebe Rexha, Lil Nas X and Kelsea Ballerini are among the slew of artists who have recently had their shows interrupted by the launching of various objects including, respectively, a phone, a sex toy and bracelet.

Ava Max was also slapped by a fan who rushed the stage, and another concertgoer threw their mother’s ashes onto the stage during P!nk’s performance at BST Hyde Park in London on June 25.

Adele even addressed the concerning trend during one of her recent Las Vegas residency shows. “Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting f–king show etiquette at the moment, people are throwing s–t on stage? Have you seen that?” she’s heard saying in a clip posted to social media. The “Easy on Me” singer, while striding across the stage holding a t-shirt gun, then added, “F–king dare you. I dare you to throw something at me.”

06 Jul 2023

Blur Earns First Airplay Chart Top 10 Since 1997, With ‘The Narcissist’

For the first time since 1997, Blur is in the top 10 of a Billboard airplay chart.

“The Narcissist,” the lead single from the Damon Albarn-fronted band’s upcoming album The Ballad of Darren, rises to No. 8 on the Adult Alternative Airplay list dated July 8.

It’s Blur’s first time within the top 10 of an airplay tally since the July 19, 1997, edition of Alternative Airplay, when “Song 2” ranked at No. 9.

In between “Song 2” and “The Narcissist,” Blur reached Alternative Airplay once, peaking at No. 22 in April 2003 with “Crazy Beat.”

“The Narcissist” is Blur’s fourth song to hit the top 10 of a Billboard airplay survey. In addition to “The Narcissist” on Adult Alternative Airplay and “Song 2” on Alternative Airplay, the band boasts the No. 4-peaking “Girls & Boys” (July 1994, Alternative Airplay) and No. 5 hit “There’s No Other Way” (November 1991, also Alternative Airplay).

Concurrently, “The Narcissist” lifts 32-30 on Alternative Airplay. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, the song pushes 42-39 with 883,000 audience impressions, up 9%, in the June 23-29 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The song is Blur’s first to appear on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, which began in 1996.

Frontman Albarn has achieved a variety of airplay top 10s with his other band, Gorillaz, including one Alternative Airplay ruler in “Feel Good Inc.” in 2005.

The Ballad of Darren, Blur’s first full-length since 2015’s The Magic Whip, is due July 21. The set’s “St. Charles Square” has also been released ahead of the LP.

06 Jul 2023

How to Watch ‘V.C. Andrews: Dawn’ Miniseries for Free Without Cable

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Lifetime is back with another V.C. Andrews adaptation — and this time, it’s with her 1990 book Dawn. The limited series V.C. Andrews’ Dawn will air Saturday (July 8) and will be released in four installments every Saturday evening through July 29.

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If you haven’t read the book, the series will tell the story of Dawn Longchamp (Brec Bassinger) who grows up around humble surroundings with a loving family. After a sudden tragedy occurs, a startling discovery is unfurled causing her life to take an unexpected turn. Now, surrounded by a new family and environment, she has to adjust to a different life filled with dark secrets and betrayal.

Starring alongside Bassinger is Jesse Metcalfe, Khobe Clarke, Donna Mills, Joey McIntyre and Fran Drescher.

Keep reading for streaming options below.

When and How to Stream V.C. Andrews’ Dawn Online

V.C. Andrews’ Dawn will be available to watch on Lifetime Saturday (July 8) at 8 p.m. ET and to stream the day after on Lifetime.com.

If you’re not already signed up for a streaming platform, cable or satellite, you can stream the movie online and for free – depending on which streamer you choose.

Lifetime can also be viewed through other streaming options including Philo, DirectTV Stream, Vidgo and SlingTV. Viewers streaming internationally can use ExpressVPN to access Lifetime, Philo and more.

If you’re shopping for budget-friendly streaming platforms, Philo offers one of the most affordable plans starting at $25/month and a free trial for the first week.

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$25/month after 7 days free

Philo features over 70 channels including Lifetime, MTV, BET, TLC, VH1, CMT, WEtv, A&E, ID, Trvl Channel, OWN, AMC and Comedy Central. The subscription includes unlimited DVR that can be stored for up to a year.

For additional savings, SlingTV is also offering a limited-time deal offering prices as low as $15 for your first month.

Check below to watch the trailer for V.C. Andrews’ Dawn.

06 Jul 2023

Lego ‘Hocus Pocus’ Set: Shop the Bewitching Release Now

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Lego wants to put a spell on you in the form of its latest magical set — a buildable Sanderson Sisters’ cottage from Disney’s 1993 classic Hocus Pocus. The new release dropped globally online and in Lego stores on Tuesday (July 4). It bewitched so many people that it’s currently on backorder at Lego.com, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t get your hands on one.

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For those wishing to have the Sanderson Sisters on display, resale retailers such as StockX and Ebay have the Lego set available to ship. If you’re okay with waiting for a little while, Lego plans on shipping the set by July 23. Meanwhile, the online Disney store currently has pre-orders open with an official release date of July 26.

Lego set built as Hocus Pocus cottage with Lego characters in front of it

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LEGO Ideas Disney Hocus Pocus: The Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage Set

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Besides acting as a tribute to the classic film, the Lego set comes with 2,316 pieces to keep you occupied — especially as you count down the days until Halloween. Once it’s finished, you’ll not only have a Lego replica of the infamous cottage, but the graveyard where the Sanderson Sisters terrorized the protagonists.

You’ll also receive seven mini figurines including Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Sanderson, Mary Sanderson, Max Dennison, Danni Dennison, Allison Watts and their magical cat Thackery Binx. Other details you can look forward to seeing is their magic cauldron, the vacuum Mary flies on and, of course, the creepy book of spells.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the Barbie: The Movie dolls, the best music Funko Pops and the best media storage cabinets.

06 Jul 2023

Peso Pluma Makes Splashy Start on Billboard Global Charts, Powered by U.S. Consumption

It’s been quite a year for Peso Pluma, and we’ve only just past the midway point. By the end of 2022, he’d scored one hit on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. surveys, as “Siempre Pedientes” with Luis R Conriquez charted for three weeks on each ranking. As of the most recent, July 8-dated editions, he’s up to 22 entries on the Global 200, including seven debuts this week.

Peso Pluma’s debut studio album Génesis was released Thursday, June 22; thus, the current chart’s tracking week of June 23-29 marks the album’s first full frame of consumption. As previously reported, the set soars to No. 1 on Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums, and launches at No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 (all of which reflect U.S. consumption).

The album’s song chart debuts are led by “Lady Gaga,” a collaboration with Gabito Ballesteros and Junior H starting at No. 14 on the Global 200 and No. 19 on the Global Excl. U.S. ranking. “Luna,” with Junior H, follows at Nos. 22 and 43, respectively. That trend continues, with all the Génesis tracks ranking higher on the Global 200 than on Global Excl. U.S., or simply missing the latter list.

The album’s 14 standard-edition tracks accumulated 227.2 million streams worldwide in the tracking week, according to Luminate. Almost half of those (45.3%) came from the U.S., compared to almost 55% beyond. While the scale technically tips toward Peso Pluma’s international prowess, that 45% U.S. share is more than double the average (22%) among this week’s charting songs (excluding Peso Pluma’s).

Peso Pluma is from Mexico and performs and records under the broad umbrella of Spanish-language regional Mexican music. But given Mexico’s close proximity to the American south, many genre artists hail from Texas and neighboring states, helping to create a strong listenership between the two countries. Even though Peso Pluma himself is not from the U.S., American fans have clearly been eager for his modern interpretation of regional Mexican styles.

In addition, Peso Pluma boasts eight non-Génesis tracks on this week’s Global 200. Those display a more balanced global spread, averaging 31% domestic streams and 69% otherwise. That is likely due, in part, to the singer’s genre-hopping, with collaborations on reggaeton-leaning songs, such as Yng Lvcas’ “La Bebe” and Bizarrap’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55.”

“La Bebe” and “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55,” both in the top 20, sport just 21% and 22%, respectively, of their streams from the U.S., as his collaborators and the songs’ pop-adjacent production have a wider appeal in Latin and South America. For chart proof, those tracks appear on eight and seven of Billboard’s Hits of the World charts, respectively, “Lady Gaga” only shows up on Mexico Songs, at No. 1.

On June 29, a deluxe version of Génesis was released, including three additional tracks. Two of those – “PRC,” with Natanael Cano and “Las Morras,” with Blessd – previously charted. The third, “Tulum,” with Grupo Frontera, is a newly released song, and potentially yet another debut on next global charts.

06 Jul 2023

Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Vampire’ Sinks Its Teeth Into Streaming & Gives New Life to Peer’s Like-Minded Kiss-Off

Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. 
 
This week: Olivia Rodrigo’s much-anticipated new single also spurs gains for her older songs (and for another singer-songwriter’s song on a similar subject), the second season of The Bear goes big with its classic alt soundtrack, TikTok produces a couple (near-literal) runaway hits and more.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Return Yields ‘Sour’ Bump – And Sweet Gains for Madison Beer 

All eyes will be at the top of the Hot 100 chart next week, as Olivia Rodrigo’s massive new single “Vampire” will presumably try to dethrone Morgan Wallen’s country-pop juggernaut “Last Night” for the No. 1 spot. “Vampire,” the lead single from Rodrigo’s upcoming sophomore album GUTS, zoomed to a fast start at streaming, with 8.43 million U.S. on-demand streams on its opening day last Friday (June 30), according to Luminate. The long-awaited single got off to such a hot start that it buoyed the rest of Rodrigo’s studio output – as well as the older single from another pop star. 

Sour, Rodrigo’s 2021 debut full-length, benefited from the release of “Vampire” on streaming services: the album scored a 47% jump in daily streams last Friday to 4.66 million, then sustained its uptick over the weekend and hovering above 3.5 million daily streams. Meanwhile, the release of “Vampire” – an anthem about romantic betrayal, that has been rumored to be inspired by Rodrigo’s relationship with DJ/producer Zack Bia – coincided with streaming gains for “Selfish,” a 2020 song from Madison Beer, also believed to be about Bia. 

“Selfish” scored an 18.7% gain in daily streams to 43,000 from June 26 (the Monday before “Vampire”) to July 3 (the Monday after) – and Beer, who released the single “Home to Another One” last month, even acknowledged the spike on social media. In response to a fan account pointing out the “Selfish” resurgence, Beer posted in a since-deleted tweet, “thank u miss olivia.” – JASON LIPSHUTZ 

Listeners ‘Bear’ Down on New TV Season’s Rock Synchs

The Bear has been one of the most acclaimed new TV shows of the decade, and now its second season – which debuted on Hulu in June – has made good on the promise of the first. Everything about the second season of the restaurant-set Chicago dramedy is bigger and more ambitious, and that includes the soundtrack, which features recurring themes, song callbacks to the first season, and artists as big as Trent Reznor, Eddie Vedder and even Taylor Swift making up the show’s musical universe. 

Several of those songs, of course, have seen big gains since the season’s June 22 premiere. Vedder & Neil Finn’s cover of Hunters & Collectors’ “Throw Your Arms Around Me,” which soundtracks the closing montage to the season’s emotional eighth episode, was up from under 5,000 official on-demand U.S. streams for the chart week ending June 22 to over 89,000 the week after – a gain of 1,806%, according to Luminate. Refused’s  “New Noise,” used multiple times in the season as now it’s on pump-up music, rose 123% to nearly 147,000 streams over that same period. 

The biggest gains, however, came for R.E.M.’s “Strange Currencies,” the shimmering mid-’90s ballad that serves as a sort of love theme for show protagonist Carmy and his now-grown childhood crush Claire. The song rose from 27,000 to nearly 283,000 streams over that period, a gain of 945% – showing that food isn’t the only thing The Bear is whetting appetites for this season. – ANDREW UNTERBERGER

Flyana Boss Sprints Towards Sizable Streaming Gains 

In just under two weeks, Flyana Boss has gone from a virtual unknown to an inescapable social media phenomenon. Aided by videos in which they sprint through crowds of unsuspecting onlookers while they lip-sync to their latest single “You Wish,” the half-Detroit half-Dallas hip-hop duo have sneakily infiltrated the zeitgeist across social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter. 

According to Luminate, “You Wish” collected 1.3 million official on-demand U.S. streams during the period of June 16-22. The following week (June 23-29), that figure ballooned to 2.1 million streams, a 61.4% increase in streaming activity. As the duo’s profile continues to rise, expect these numbers to keep growing. During this year’s Essence Festival, Megan Thee Stallion invited them onstage to twerk alongside her during her headlining set. At the festival, Flyana Boss also performed at the Girls United kickback. The viral duo has seen a wave of recent industry support, including messages of affirmation from the likes of Missy Elliott, Keke Palmer, and Timbaland. 

On TikTok, “You Wish” has already been used in over 73,000 videos, most of which are users imitating the sprint-and-rap template of Flyana Boss’ original clip. More importantly, perhaps, “You Wish” appears to be connecting with audiences outside of the viral trend. The lyrics “I’m made of sugar, spice, Kanekalon, and cinnamon,” have launched scores of debates around race, hair politics, and what happens when lyrics steeped in Black cultural experiences crossover to the mainstream. “You Wish” is just getting started, and Flyana Boss could potentially run all the way to a surprise summer hit with the fast-growing track.  – KYLE DENIS

‘Titan’ Tragedy Results in ‘My Heart Will Go On’ Streams

Last month, the implosion of the Titan submersible made global headlines, as an expedition to view the famed wreck of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean caused an international search and rescue operation, and ultimately claimed the lives of the five passengers aboard. As the news unfolded over multiple days beginning on June 18, when the submersible first lost communication, streams of “My Heart Will Go On,” Céline Dion’s smash single that doubled as the theme song to James Cameron’s world-conquering 1997 film Titanic, saw an uptick, as social media users posted both memes and tributes in kind. 

“Heart” rose 12.9% in weekly streams during the ending June 22 (the day that debris believed to be from the submersible was discovered), to 743,000 U.S. official on-demand streams, according to Luminate. The song topped 1 million streams the following week, spiking nearly 40 percent in streams for the week ending June 30. “Heart,” of course, became a Hot 100 chart-topper for Dion upon its release, and the Titanic soundtrack spent 16 straight weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart in 1998 on its way to becoming one of the biggest-selling albums of all time. – JL

DeJ Loaf Deep Cuts Are Running Through TikTok’s Mind 

Although DeJ Loaf last hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018 with “At the Club,” a duet with R&B star Jacquees that reached No. 86, the Detroit rapper could make a grand return to the chart if this deep cut continues to make steady gains. “Running Through My Mind,” a track from her 2020 No Saint EP, is the soundtrack to one of the latest viral TikTok trends. Users film themselves running while flashing an indiscernible picture on their phone as a sped-up version of DeJ Loaf’s voice croons the song’s hook, “You been running through my mind all day.” The idea is that the user is cheekily revealing the person who they have a crush on without confirming their specific identity. 

The “Running Through My Mind” TikTok sound has been used in 128,000 videos and counting, and according to Luminate, “Running Through My Mind” has posted double-digit streaming gains for the past three weeks. During the tracking week ending June 8, the song collected 44,000 official on-demand U.S. streams, but as the TikTok trend continued to gain steam, that number rose to over 254,000 official on-demand U.S. streams for the week ending June 29, a 470% hike. With “Running Through My Mind” continuing to grow, DeJ Loaf may be looking at her biggest unaccompanied solo song since “No Fear” reached the Hot 100 back in 2017. – KD

Season’s Gainings: It’s Definitely a Fourth of July Party

Our country’s 247th birthday was celebrated nationwide on July 4, and despite the holiday falling on a Tuesday in the middle of the workweek, it doesn’t seem to have stopped folks from cranking the patriotic (and/or bitterly ironic) tunes to commemorate the occasion. Zac Brown Band’s cookout-ready “Chicken Fried” rose from 796,000 to 1.6 million daily official on-demand U.S. streams from July 3 to July 4, according to Luminate, while Bruce Springsteen’s not-what-your-drunk-uncle-thinks-it’s-about anthem “Born in the U.S.A.” rose 333% to 2.1 million streams, and the entire catalog of American greats Creedence Clearwater Revival was up 33% to 4.8 million streams. And of course, the Fourth of July crown went to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.,” up 137% to nearly 2.3 million, our country’s unofficial second national anthem for yet another year. – AU

06 Jul 2023

Jelly Roll’s Wife Bunnie Is Doing Meet and Greets During His New Tour

Singer-songwriter Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie XO are fast becoming one of country music’s biggest power couples — and now, the social media personality and host of the popular Dumb Blonde podcast is ready to show their fans some love.

On her Instagram Stories, Bunnie revealed that when Jelly Roll launches his 2023 Backroad Baptism Tour later this month, she will be hosting meet-and-greets, featuring Bunnie, Jelly Roll, and their entire crew.

She noted that Patreon followers get first dibs at meet-and-greet opportunities, and attendees will receive “Bunnie bundles” filled with gifts. “I love you guys. I can’t wait to touch all your butts and give you big kisses on tour,” Bunnie told fans in her video.

Bunnie first teased the meet and greet package in a TikTok video last month, where she said that she had seen fans wondering where she was at her hubby’s latest shows. “So, every night that J has a concert, I get a lot of you tagging me upset that I’m not there. Just want you guys to know that your girl is preserving her energy for the next four months.”

She also noted that those who purchase meet-and-greet packages must also have a ticket to one of Jelly Roll’s tourdates. “Without one of these tickets in hand, you cannot come to the meet-and-greet,” Bunnie noted. Jelly Roll’s tour will features openers including Ashley McBryde, Chase Rice, Struggle Jennings and Elle King.

Jelly Roll, known for his No. 1 hits including the Country Airplay chart-topper “Son of a Sinner” and No. 1 rock single “Dead Man Walking,” was recently featured on the cover of Billboard’s Country Power Players issue. As part of the story, Jelly Roll discussed the incredibly positive impact Bunnie, whom he married in 2016, has had on his life, including helping him to get custody of his daughter. Jelly Roll calls her “a beacon of change in my life. You’re talking about a woman that came in and took a child that was soon to be born and a child that [we were] soon to have full custody of,” he told Billboard. “I would have never got custody of my daughter without her. I wouldn’t have had the stability or the money.”

Check out Bunnie’s TikTok below:

06 Jul 2023

Britney Spears Allegedly Hit by NBA Player Victor Wembanyama’s Security

Britney Spears has filed a police report after she was allegedly struck by NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security in Las Vegas on Wednesday (July 5).

According to TMZ, who first reported the news, Spears was having dinner with husband Sam Asghari and two friends at Catch at the Aria Hotel when she saw the San Antonio Spurs athlete and wanted to take a photo with him. When she tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder, Director of Team Security for the Spurs Damian Smith reportedly pushed her, hitting her in the face and she fell to the ground.

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Smith then reportedly apologized to Spears, as he did not recognize the pop star at the time of the incident, and the “Piece of Me” singer accepted the apology. TMZ reports that Spears’ security team then met with Smith, and the superstar ultimately decided to file a police report alleging battery. Law enforcement has since checked the Aria Hotel’s security footage, and it reportedly shows Smith pushing Spears’ hand away from Wembanyama, and that caused her own hand to strike her in the face and fall down.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told Billboard when asked about the alleged incident and for the report, “On July 5, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., LVMPD officers responded to a property in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard regarding a battery investigation. The incident has been documented on a police report and no arrest or citations have been issued.”

Billboard has reached out to Spears’ team for confirmation and more information.

06 Jul 2023

Thai Political Leader Pita Limjaroenrat Asks Taylor Swift to Bring Her Eras Tour to His Country

Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour has dominated the world since it first kicked off back in April, and the stadium-sized trek is showing no signs of slowing down. Between Swift’s mind-boggling success and the positive economic impact of her tour stops on the cities that she visits, even politicians and government officials are clamoring for a glimpse of the Eras Tour.

On Thursday (July 6), Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party, took to Twitter to request an Eras Tour stop in his country. “Thailand is back on track to be fully democratic after you had to cancel last time due to the coup,” he wrote, referring to 2014, when the Grammy-winning pop star was forced to cancel the Bangkok date of her Red Tour after the military sezied control of the government in a coup d’état.

“The Thai people have spoken via the election and we all look forward to welcoming you to this beautiful nation of ours,” he continued. The aspiring prime minister even promised to sing “Lavender Haze” with Swift if she came, declaring that he was a “big fan of yours.”

Limjaroenrat’s request comes just one day after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau made a similar ask of the “Karma” singer. “It’s me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you,” he tweeted on Wednesday (July 5). “So, don’t make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon.”

Over the past few weeks, Swift has announced several new shows and legs of her Eras Tour. The three-hour show will now visit cities across North America, Asia, South America, Australia, and Europe. The Eras Tour is a celebration of Swift’s incredibly successful career, celebrating her ten studio albums as well as her re-recordings; her latest re-release, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), arrives tonight at midnight (July 7).

Read Limjaroenrat’s special request here:

06 Jul 2023

Donda Academy Didn’t Have Windows Because Kanye West ‘Did Not Like Glass,’ New Lawsuit Claims

Kanye West is facing another lawsuit about unsafe conditions at his Donda Academy, including that the bizarre allegation that the school lacked windows because the embattled rapper “did not like glass.”

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In a lawsuit filed Thursday (July 6) in Los Angeles, former Donda Academy gym teacher Isaiah Meadows says he was unfairly fired after he raised concerns about inconsistent pay and serious health and safety issues — allegedly including overflowing sceptic tanks and dangerous electrical fires.

The new case came just three months after a group of other former Donda employees filed a similar case against West (who legally changed his name to Ye) and his private school, alleging they had been terminated after complaining about shoddy pay and bad conditions.

Like the previous case, the new lawsuit paints a strange picture of life inside West’s school and the Yeezy Christian Academy that preceded it. In one accusation, Meadows says students were left “exposed to the elements” because the rapper refused to allow glass to be placed in the building’s window frames.

“In the middle of the main classroom, a skylight was left without glass inevitably allowing rain to fall directly inside, where water would soak into the floor, which would lead to a moldy smell for the next few days,” Meadows’ lawyers wrote. “The skylight was intentionally without glass because WEST expressed that he did not like glass.”

He also claims that the school had “serious wiring issues,” leading to an incident in which an electrical fire was sparked “near the student eating area where wire was laid atop the ground, exposed.” Plumbing was allegedly also a problem, including a sceptic tank that would “overflow every other day, causing a terrible smell.”

In a statement announcing the new case, attorney Ron Zambrano called the conditions at Donda Academy “absolutely egregious” and said he and his client “plan to hold them accountable.”

“The unlawful and retaliatory behavior by Mr. West and the school directors have now been documented multiple times by other former employees who never even worked together but all experienced the same horrendous treatment and witnessed the same serious health, safety and education code violations, while all were subjected to the same fate,” Zambrano said.

In technical terms, the lawsuit accuses West, Donda Academy and others of breach of contract and of violation of several California labor laws, including wage rules, wrongful termination, and improper classification.

Donda Academy did not immediately return a request for comment on the lawsuit. A representative for West individually could not immediately be located for comment.

Much like the new claims about glassless windows, the earlier case against Donda included its own allegations about conditions at the school. The former teachers claimed that students were allowed to only eat sushi; that all students were required to wear black; and, oddest of all, that students were also not allowed on the second floor because West was “reportedly afraid of stairs.”

That case, filed by the same attorneys on behalf of former teachers Cecilia Hailey, Chekarey Byers and Timanii Meeks, is still pending.