Photo: Getty Images
Ye is dealing with another legal situation from a former employee who claims the artist treated his non-Black team members at Donda Academy way better than his fellow Black employees.
According to a report People published on Monday, April 29, Benjamin Deshon Provo filed a lawsuit against the artist formerly known as Kanye West for alleged discrimination plus retaliation, hostile work environment, labor code violations and more. In his legal complaint, Provo claimed he was "berated" by Ye for months and accused the "Carnival" rapper of firing him because he refused to cut off his dreads.
"Thereafter, Hicks approached Plaintiff and stated, 'Kanye said, 'Tell the one with the dreads to shave his head or he is fired.' Plaintiff refused to shave his head, and as a result thereof, his employment was terminated.”
Provo used to work as a security guard for Ye in 2021 before he provided his services at the Yeezy brand warehouse and Donda Academy. He spent six months at the private school and even took on "additional duties" because the school was understaffed. Provo said he noticed a pattern of preferential treatment Ye had for his non-Black employees versus his Black employees. Provo claimed Ye was “always abrupt, abrasive, and demeaning" of him and his fellow Black team members and that he was paid less than his melanin-deficient co-workers.
After he complained to his manager John Hicks, Provo noticed his pay was decreasing and was told Ye "couldn't afford security." He also alleged Ye demanded he and other employees shave their heads without providing a valid reason. Provo asserted he couldn't cut his hair due to his Muslim faith. Ye allegedly gave Provo an ultimatum to either cut his dreadlocks or face termination. After Provo refused again, Ye fired him.
Provo wants damages for all the offenses listed in the lawsuit as well as a "permanent injunction, and a public injunction, against all Defendants, prohibiting them from owning and operating any type of educational school for minor children under the age of 18 years in the state of California.”
This is just the latest lawsuit Ye is facing from a former employee.
Since the private school was shut down in 2022, several people who worked for the controversial artist have taken legal action against him. Trevor Phillips, a former Yeezy employee, accused the multifaceted artist of attempting to put students in cages on campus. Last year, educator Cecilia Hailey also sued Ye for discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination.