Kanye West is embroiled in controversy once again, this time due to allegations of discrimination within his team. A former employee has initiated a lawsuit against West, claiming discriminatory treatment against Black staff members at the Donda Academy, where he previously worked as a security guard.
The lawsuit, detailed in documents accessed by Page Six and filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on April 26, accuses West and his management team of treating Black employees less favorably compared to their white colleagues. The plaintiff, Benjamin Deshon Provo, alleges he endured “severe emotional distress” due to West’s conduct, which included frequent verbal assaults aimed specifically at Black employees. In contrast, it is claimed that West never raised his voice towards white staff.
Provo’s claims extend beyond verbal abuse; he alleges that West ridiculed Black employees for their appearance, particularly targeting those with locs—a hairstyle Provo wore as part of his Muslim faith. According to the lawsuit, West forced him to choose between his hair and his job.
Moreover, the complaint accuses West of banning books by notable Black leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Provo, however, did not specify a dollar amount for the damages he is seeking.
This case adds to the mounting legal challenges for West. Earlier this month, another former Donda Academy employee, Trevor Phillips, filed a separate lawsuit alleging discrimination, harassment, and a hostile work environment. According to TMZ, Phillips accuses West of various inappropriate behaviors, including explicit discussions about his personal life and controversial statements about ethnicity and sexual orientation.
Phillips’ lawsuit also contains bizarre allegations about West’s management practices, including a claim that West threatened to build a jail within the school to “cage” students and showed favoritism towards white employees.
Phillips’ attorney issued a statement to People magazine expressing hope that the lawsuit would uphold the injured clients’ rights and impress upon West the unacceptable nature of his alleged discriminatory and hateful messages.
