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Kanye West\u2019s sample dispute with Alice Merton keeps Holocaust references in court as the singer\u2019s refusal becomes a key issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Kanye West<\/a> can\u2019t keep his alleged antisemitic remarks out of Alice Merton\u2019s copyright suit after a judge rejected his request.<\/p>\n Ye asked the court to strip claims about his remarks and the Holocaust from the case. Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha denied his bid in an October 8 order filed in federal court.<\/p>\n Ye\u2019s lawyers argued those claims had no link to whether he used her song without permission. They called the claims \u201cimmaterial, impertinent, and scandalous because they have no bearing on the alleged infringement and only serve to generate controversy in the press.\u201d<\/p>\n Merton\u2019s side said the remarks \u201cplayed heavily into [Merton\u2019s] decision not to allow [Ye] to use [Merton\u2019s] song,\u201d the order states.<\/p>\n Join Us <\/p>\n Delivering news to inboxes since 1999. We break it. They take it. Get it first, straight from AllHipHop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The judge ruled the claims could stay because they help explain why Merton wouldn\u2019t clear the sample. The judge found those claims \u201cnot unduly prejudicial\u201d and said they \u201cmay have some bearing on the litigation.\u201d <\/p>\n Her side also wants to show Ye knew he lacked the rights when he used her work.<\/p>\n The fight centers on \u201cBlindside,\u201d Merton\u2019s 2022 song<\/a> that she says Ye used in \u201cGun To My Head.\u201d His team asked BMG Rights Management to clear the sample in February 2024, the order states.<\/p>\n Merton said no the next month and gave a blunt reason when BMG asked her why. Her side wrote, \u201cthe artist\u2019s values are contrary to our values,\u201d in the email cited by the judge.<\/p>\n \n\n\n\n\nAllHipHop\u2019s Daily News Service<\/h2>\n