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Kanye West allegedly berated, fired black employee over refusal to cut dreads: lawsuit

  2024-05-12 pagesixEileen Reslen7940
Introduction

Kanye West is being accused of “frequently screaming” and firing a former employee, who is black, because of the color o

Kanye West allegedly berated, fired black employee over refusal to cut dreads: lawsuit

Kanye West is being accused of “frequently screaming” and firing a former employee, who is black, because of the color of his skin in a new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Friday.

According to the complaint exclusively obtained by Page Six, Benjamin Deshon Provo — who was hired in August 2021 to work as a security guard in the rapper’s Christian school Donda Academy — claims he suffered “severe emotional distress” as a result of West’s alleged actions.

“Kanye and members of his management team subjected Provo and other black employees to less favorable treatment than their white counterparts,” the lawsuit alleges.

Kanye West.
West allegedly screamed at an ex-staffer “frequently.” GC Images
An exterior shot of Do<i></i>nda Academy.
Benjamin Deshon Provo worked as a security guard for West’s Donda Academy. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

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“Specifically, Kanye frequently screamed at and berated black employees, while in contrast, he never so much as raised his tone of voice toward white staff.”

Provo alleges West, 46, also ridiculed him for wearing his hair in dreads — even though he claims the hairstyle was due in part to his Muslim faith.

“Kanye and members of his management team required Provo to choose between these critical aspects of his self-identity and financial stability,” the complaint states.

“Indeed, at the direction of Kanye, Provo was given the ultimatum, cut his hair, or be fired.” The ex-guard was then allegedly terminated for refusing to follow orders regarding his hair.

Kanye West.
Provo alleged that West wanted him to cut his dreads, which he allegedly wore as part of his Muslim faith. GC Images
Kanye West.
Provo claims West fired him for not cutting his hair. SplashNews

Provo also claims in the suit that West’s alleged racist tendencies went so far as to have him ban books about historical black figures, including Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.

“Further, Kanye regularly expressed negative beliefs associated with prominent black leaders that advocated for or sought to advance the black community,” the former Donda staffer further claims.

Provo’s allegations appear to be consistent with what teacher Cecilia Hailey said in her April 2023 lawsuit against West, in which she alleged the “Power” rapper banned black history books. An April 2025 trial date has been scheduled for that case.

Kanye West.
Provo claims West also banned books about black historical figures. GC Images
Students at Do<i></i>nda Academy classroom.
Donda Academy students were allegedly not allowed to read about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. kanyewest/Instagram

Aside from allegedly being discriminated against because of his race and faith, Provo alleges he was often forced into engaging in uncomfortable physical altercations as part of his job as a security guard.

He alleges that sometime in 2023, he was instructed to “prevent paparazzi from interacting with Kanye by any means necessary, including acts of violence.”

“Specifically, plaintiff was required to use physical force to remove paparazzi from the direct vicinity of Kanye and those in his company,” the complaint adds, including a photo from a recent spat that West was involved in with a TMZ reporter as evidence of his alleged orders.

“Kanye required that plaintiff snatch cameras from paparazzi, take their sim cards and provide them to Kanye,” the suit further alleges. “Notably, this was a practice regularly engaged in by Kanye, who has a documented history of assaulting paparazzi.”

According to the complaint, Provo allegedly expressed his concerns to his manager, John Hicks, saying, “I don’t want to do this, I could go to jail.”

The supervisor allegedly responded dismissively, “We will bail you out,” resulting in the former security guard being forced to continue to confront paparazzi, placing “he and them in harm’s way,” per the suit.

Kanye West fighting with paparazzi.
Per Provo, West implored his security team to resort to violence with paps. / SplashNews
Kanye West fighting with a paparazzo.
The complaint also highlights West’s “documented history of assaulting paparazzi.” MAP / Splash News

Provo also reiterated claims in lawsuits filed by other former employees, including allegations that Donda Academy’s first school grounds were “unsafe” due to lack of ventilation, sufficient fire hydrants and other health and safety hazards.

The suit that initially made those claims, filed by Isaiah Meadows in July 2023, appears to be ongoing, as West reportedly filed a motion to dismiss the case.

Provo’s attorneys conclude that their client allegedly found himself at the “epicenter of a campaign of discrimination, harassment and retaliation as a result of being an unapologetically black man, and a follower of the Muslim faith” while working for West.

Carney R. Shegerian, the lead attorney on the case of Shegerian & Associates, adds, “No matter how famous one is, no one is above the law. We look forward to holding Mr. West accountable for the discrimination alleged in the complaint.”

Provo is seeking damages for alleged discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, labor code violations and other claims.

Kanye West.
Provo claims that West did not treat back employees the same as their white colleagues. NewsYourCelebs / SplashNews
Kanye West.
West has not yet responded to the allegations. Getty Images

Provo’s lawsuit follows another bombshell lawsuit recently filed by former Yeezy employee Trevor Phillips.

The ex-staffer alleged in that complaint, also filed this month, that West proudly touted “antisemitic” remarks around schoolchildren, and once threatened to shave two kids’ heads and lock them in cages.

Phillips also claimed his former boss — who is set to launch his own adult entertainment website — flaunted naked pictures of a female friend in front of colleagues and once simulated masturbation in his presence.

Multiple sources close to West cast doubt on Phillips’ allegations, pointing out to Page Six exclusively after the suit was filed that the former Yeezy worker’s daughter is still part of the Donda choir.

Do<i></i>nda Academy.
Aside from Provo, several other former Yeezy and Donda Academy staffers have sued West. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Kanye West smiling.
A source recently told Page Six, though, that Donda Academy is West’s “source of light.” GC Images

“It bothers me, honestly, because Ye is a generous guy,” an insider said in response to Phillips’ suit.

“One thing that everyone knows is that the kids, the school and everything in regards to Donda is [West’s] life, his source of light.” Donda Academy first opened in 2022 and is named after the rapper’s late mother.

West has not issued a statement on the recent claims levied against him, and his reps did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment on Provo’s lawsuit.

(By/Eileen Reslen)
 
 
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