KANYE West’s abandoned church building in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley burned down after neighbors warned he needed to take care of it, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
Kanye, 47, purchased the one-story home in January 2023 for $1.5 million, after it previously belonged to the nearby Cornerstone Christian Church.
Thousands petitioned to not have him lease any space at the church amid his wild outbursts about the Jewish community, but he ended up buying the property behind it.
He reportedly planned to use the space for his ill-fated Christian school Donda Academy but changed his mind and left it to rot.
Neighbors complained about it being an eye-sore with boarded-up windows, old shopping carts, and trash dumped on the land.
One said at the time, “I had no idea Kanye bought it but … it’s not a good look for the neighborhood.
“He needs to clean it up, you don’t want a bum breaking in and living there.”
Now, exclusive photographs obtained by The U.S. Sun show the empty land and security fencing after a huge blaze saw it burn to the ground late last year.
Authorities confirmed the fire occurred shortly after 12:45 am on October 14, 2024, and it was a possible act of arson.
Firefighters battled large flames that engulfed the home for around 30 minutes as they extended to nearby trees.
According to KCAL News, no injuries were reported but one nearby residence did sustain superficial damage from the intense heat and flames.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Los Angeles Fire Department for further comment on the investigation.
Kanye West’s ex Amber Rose reveals twisted reason he ‘forces’ his wives and girlfriends to go nearly naked in public
PROPERTY LIEN
Photographs now show the site looking even worse than when it was abandoned, with giant fencing surrounding the property covered in graffiti and debris scattered on the ground.
Yellow caution tape is still displayed near the sidewalk and a broken fence with a no trespassing sign is leaning against a nearby tree.
Aerial footage shows there is nothing left of the property after it was raised and all that remains is piles of debris and large outdoor trash containers.
It’s unknown whether Kanye is even aware the property burned down, and a rep for the rapper did not respond.
The U.S. Sun can also reveal Kanye was slapped with a lien on the home in December for outstanding taxes from 2024 amounting to around $19,525.
Kanye previously took over rooms at Cornerstone Christian Church after becoming friends with the former pastor Ronald Nagin.
More than 12,000 people signed a petition to stop him from leasing or buying land from Cornerstone, and a group wrote an open letter to Nagin.
The petition was launched by Faithful America in 2023, which bills itself as “the largest online community of grassroots Christians acting for social justice.”
The group wrote, “Ye, the rapper previously known as Kanye West, has been losing sponsors and contracts left and right over his harmful antisemitism – yet one California pastor says Ye’s recent hatred isn’t a dealbreaker for their Christian business partnership.
“On December 1, Ye clutched a Bible and shockingly said ‘I see good things about Hitler’ and ‘I like Hitler’ during an appearance on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’s show InfoWars. He has previously tweeted other threats and conspiracy theories about Jewish people.”
The letter to Nagin further read, “As your fellow Christians, we strongly object to the possibility of Cornerstone Church renting space to Ye (Kanye West).
“There is no room in God’s house for hatred. Allowing Ye’s Donda Academy to operate out of a place of worship would give it and him credibility that at this point they do not deserve.
“As your siblings in Christ, we ask you not to host Ye’s unaccredited private school on your church grounds.”
Nagin, who has since moved on to another church, used to reside at the home before he sold it to Kanye.
Property documents show it was bought under the star’s Blue Spruce Trust, with ‘Ye’ listed on the papers, and has not sold since or been put up for rent.
In a BBC documentary, The Trouble with Ye, journalist Mobeen Azhar revealed he visited Cornerstone when Kanye was still planning to run for president.
He claimed Kanye had seamstresses making Yeezy clothing in the building at the back of the church and was also using the space as his election campaign headquarters.
Sources then told The U.S. Sun he intended to use it for his private school, which is now operating as a charity following lawsuits from former staff.
Meanwhile, Kanye has announced the return of his Sunday Service with longtime friend, Jason White.
His church sessions with a live choir have been on pause for months.
The news comes after he caused outrage on social media in recent weeks, praising Hitler and declaring himself a Nazi.
