Judge Rules Holocaust & Antisemitism References Stay in Ye Copyright Lawsuit

Ye will not be able to remove references to the Holocaust and his history of antisemitism from an ongoing copyright lawsuit filed against him. A new court order determined that these details could potentially be relevant to the legal case moving forward.

The legal battle stems from a lawsuit filed in 2025 by German singer-songwriter Alice Merton. According to the complaint, Ye utilized a sample of Merton’s earlier song “Blindside” on his 2024 track “Gun to My Head,” which was featured on a digital deluxe version of *Vultures 2*.

Merton claims that she had expressly denied Ye's clearance request months before the release. As a direct descendant of Holocaust survivors, Merton stated she refused to grant the license because she did not want to be associated with the rapper's past antisemitic remarks.

Legal representatives for Ye sought to remove the mentions of the Holocaust and antisemitism from the lawsuit, describing the allegations as “immaterial, impertinent and scandalous.” However, U.S. District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha denied the motion in a court order.

The judge wrote that the allegations concerning Merton’s background and Ye’s remarks are not unduly prejudicial. The court found that these details may have some bearing on the litigation, including potentially explaining the plaintiff's rationale for denying the use of the song at trial. Judge Aenlle-Rocha additionally refused a request to trim complaints regarding Ye's prior copyright infringement lawsuits.

Dylan Grimes, an attorney representing Merton, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the legal team is pleased the court found the statements to be relevant. Representatives for Ye did not immediately return requests for comment following the decision.

Ye has faced multiple legal challenges over the years regarding unlicensed samples and interpolations. While the artist has historically settled many of these claims, a jury found him liable earlier this year in a trial concerning an instrumental track used on his 2021 album Donda.

The broader public scrutiny surrounding Ye includes controversy regarding antisemitic statements made since 2022. Earlier this year, the rapper issued an apology in a publication addressing his public hate speech, citing a 2002 car crash and bipolar disorder while expressing regret. Despite working to mount a career comeback with stadium performances, the artist's past statements have continued to draw international government concerns and canceled shows abroad.

With the court order denying Ye's motion, the copyright lawsuit will proceed through the remaining evidence discovery phase. A jury trial for the case is currently scheduled to begin in March, unless a settlement is reached between the parties beforehand.

The fully intact lawsuit will continue toward its scheduled trial date as both legal teams prepare for the next stages of litigation.