A lawsuit has been filed against Ye by a former employee of the private school he established, Donda Academy. The employee has made several accusations, including claims that the Grammy award-winning artist engaged in “spreading antisemitism” and expressed a desire to “shave their heads” to the students, as stated in the lawsuit.
Trevor Phillips has filed a lawsuit against Ye, his Yeezy fashion brand, and Donda Academy, alleging that he experienced “severe discrimination, harassment, and retaliation directly from Kanye West,” according to a 42-page suit obtained by USA TODAY. The lawsuit was filed by Phillips on Tuesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
According to the lawsuit, Phillips, who had worked for Kanye West’s Yeezy fashion line and Donda Academy school for nine months, encountered problems with the mogul when he refused to comply with Kanye’s discriminatory views and instructions to break the law.
In October 2022, there was a significant backlash against Ye when he made a controversial tweet, now referred to as X, where he expressed negative sentiments towards Jewish people. Following this incident, Phillips claims that he was hired the following month to work for the Yeezy clothing line.
According to the lawsuit, Phillips claimed that he had witnessed Kanye engaging in hateful speech, promoting anti-Semitic stereotypes and falsehoods, making threats towards the LGBTQ+ community, and even engaging in behavior that was almost sexually explicit.
Ye treated black employees ‘considerably worse than white employees,’ Phillips says
According to the lawsuit, Phillips alleges that Ye treated black staff in a significantly worse manner than white employees.
According to Phillips, Kanye would frequently scream and berate black employees, even during class. However, he never raised his voice or displayed the same aggressive behavior towards the white staff. Phillips, who is a black man, was often the primary target of Kanye’s disparaging and harassing actions, which were accompanied by a complete and blatant disregard for him.
According to the lawsuit, Phillips expressed his concerns about Ye’s behavior and felt that he was being targeted even more because of his skin color.
Kanye West unveils his new titanium teeth, revealing that the process of achieving his unique smile did not involve removing his real teeth. This avant-garde approach to dentistry showcases Kanye’s willingness to explore innovative and experimental techniques for self-expression.
According to the lawsuit, aside from the allegations of retaliation, Ye reportedly made disturbing statements to the students. He allegedly expressed a desire for them to shave their heads and even mentioned his intention to establish a jail within the school premises, where students could potentially be locked in cages.
According to the former employee, Ye allegedly expressed admiration for Hitler in front of students, describing his words as a “dangerous rhetoric.”
Ye showed Donda Academy employees nude photos of sex partners, Phillips says
Ye allegedly displayed nude photos of his sexual partners to employees and directed Phillips to perform electrical work and renovations at Donda Academy without the necessary electrician experience or permits.
According to the lawsuit, the ex-employee claimed that Ye would frequently hire and fire Phillips without any prior notice. Specifically, the former employee referenced an incident that took place in May 2023. Allegedly, during this incident, Ye became upset with the garden that Phillips was in charge of and threatened to physically assault him in front of numerous staff members and students.
According to the lawsuit, Kanye angrily raised his hand and directed his attention towards Phillips’ neck condition, shouting, “Forget about your neck!” He then shifted his focus to the school and exclaimed, “And I don’t care about your daughter either. None of that matters to me.”
According to the lawsuit, Phillips is seeking compensation in excess of $35,000 for the damages.
Carney R. Shegerian, the attorney representing Phillips, stated that their intention in filing the lawsuit is to protect the rights of their injured client and to convey a clear message to the renowned artist, Mr. West. Shegerian emphasized that the alleged messages promoting discrimination, antisemitism, and admiration for Hitler have no place in today’s world.
According to multiple reports, the status of Donda Academy’s current availability is uncertain. The school was initially reported to have closed on October 27, 2022, following Kanye West’s antisemitic comments on social media. However, it reopened just a few hours later.
