Kanye West's signature forged on NYFW performance contract; Philipp Plein scammed

It turns out Kanye West isn’t performing at Philpp Plein’s New York Fashion Week “dinner show” after all, despite guests receiving invitations with Kanye’s name listed. TMZ reports that Kanye himself was never contracted for the performance at all; instead, according to their sources, a G.O.O.D. Music associate (and former friend of Kanye’s) misrepresented himself to Plein as Kanye’s rep. He allegedly negotiated a nearly million dollar contract for Kanye’s performance, including a $900,000 advance, which, according to TMZ, Plein wired to an account associated with the scammer. He also allegedly forged Kanye’s signature on the contract, which TMZ has a picture of.

UPDATE: Philpp Plein International released a statement to the New York Times:

In a statement, Philipp Plein International said it had been “beyond excited” to work with Mr. West but confirmed that he would not be performing. The company denied any misconduct on its or Mr. West’s part and blamed the situation on “an individual pretending to be part of his management team,” who “acted without Kanye’s knowledge, capitalizing on a former friendship with him.”

UPDATE 2: According to a new report from The Blast, Malik Yusef was the third party in the fake contract between Plein and Kanye. Yusef, a frequent collaborator of Kanye’s, allegedly included Kanye’s former charity, Donda House, in the contract; it has been renamed Art of Culture Incorporated and is no longer connected with Kanye. A representative with the charity denied any knowledge of or involvement with this deal, or Yusef, to The Blast.

Kim Kardashian said on Twitter yesterday that Kanye is “not performing at any fashion show this season. Just a rumor.”