Kanye West 'slaps NYFW models with $10m non-disclosure threat if they leak information'

He is notoriously protective of his art and his family so it comes as no surprise that Kanye West has gone to great lengths to ensure that both are safe from would be opportunists. The 38-year-old rapper, who is preparing to unveil his second collection of Adidas at New York Fashion Week, has reportedly slapped non-disclosure forms on his models, banning them from talking about him or his family. An insider told the Daily Mirror that the models face a $10m (£6.5 m) lawsuit if they reveal anything that has transpired behind the scenes.

"Kanye's hacked off some really high-profile models by asking them to sign the agreement, particularly because it stated that he could sue them for up to $10million if they spoke out about him," the source said. "It's a ridiculous amount and some models flat-out refused.

"He's not considered a great talent – everyone knows his show is just a media frenzy, so some girls would rather not be associated with him. The document is ridiculous and totally over the top – but that's just Kanye."

IBTimes UK has contacted West's reps for comment and is awaiting reply.

West continues to step on toes as he prepares to show off his new line for streetwear in front of what is expected to be a star-studded crowd. Although his first collection was widely panned by critics, he did manage an impressive turn out which included the likes of Jay Z and Beyoncé as well as Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

This time around he has been accused of stealing the thunder from budding designer Anne Bowen by holding his show on the same day and time as hers. She claimed that she had been blindsided by the show and would no doubt suffer financially, insisting she can't compete because "he is Goliath".

"We have been prepping for a year for this at considerable financial, labour and commitment-cost to our company," she told Women's Wear Daily. "Our show date has been scheduled for months and has been on the Fashion Calendar for weeks. We went through all the proper channels to make this a reality."

Bowen added: "Kanye knows he is a media sensation and it is just not ethical to do this. It's like we are David and he is Goliath. We have put our heart and soul into our show, and should not be stepped on like this."