Kanye West’s former security guard is suing him over his alleged treatment of black staff at his Donda Academy.
Benjamin Deshon Provo, who is black and Muslim, alleged in a new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles court that the ‘Jesus
Walks’ rapper and his management favored white staff and paid them at least $5 more.
Provo, who wears dreadlocks because of his religion, said he was often singled out by West and his manager, John
Hicks.
‘Notably, Kanye began to become increasingly more aggressive, demanding, ‘Alright y’all, it is time for you to shave
your heads. I am not messing around,” according to the suit.
Kanye, or Ye West, is facing another lawsuit from a former security guard who claims the rapper told him to shave off his dreadlocks or he would be fired
In the lawsuit, former Donda Academy security guard, Benjamin Deshon Provo, claims the rapper screamed and was more aggressive toward black staff members. He also claimed the school had multiple safety violations’However, Plaintiff refused. 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 claimed the school’s Simi Valley location was forced to close down because of unsafe conditions, including lack of windows for ventilation, lack of fire hydrants and other safety measures.
Other former Donda Academy staffers made similar allegations in their own lawsuits against West.
The former Donda security guard said the school was moved to another campus in Chatsworth, but the problems there continued.
‘At this location, Plaintiff was assigned additional job duties as a result of a lack of staffing, including providing snacks to children, transportation for children, and teaching students nutrition,’ the complaint said.
Outside of his duties at the academy, Provo said he also served as part of West’s security detail.
Donda Academy’s Simi Valley location was shuttered and moved to another site after West and the school faced various fines, Provo claimed in his lawsuit
Several of West’s former Donda Academy employees have filed similar lawsuits against the rapper and Yeezy brand designer. The academy students, shown here, were required to wear black and other monotone clothing designed by West
He claims the rapper ‘required’ him and other guard to ‘snatch cameras from paparazzi, take their sim cards and provide them to Kanye.
‘Notably, this was a practice regularly engaged in by Kanye, who has a documented history of assaulting paparazzi,’ the suit said.
Provo also claimed West was continuously abrasive and demeaning to him and other black employees, while the rapper favored his white staff.
The affidavit includes a picture of West wearing a black hooded sheet resembling the while hoods worn by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Provo claims when he brought up he was being paid less than white employees, Hicks allegedly responded, ‘Don’t bring up money to Ye. He doesn’t like to talk about money.’
Benjamin Provo claimed he also served in West’s security detail and was told to handle paparazzi aggressively
Donda Academy’s Simi Valley location closed abruptly in October 2022 after West lost financial backing from various business partners when he made antisemitic remarks
He claims Hicks also told him his boss could not afford security, so he would be paid $5 less. However, Provo said his white counterparts’ pay were not docked.
Provo is suing West, Donda Academy and others for discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation and violation of various labor codes.
Earlier this month, another former Donda Academy employee – Trevor Phillips – filed a suit against West and claimed the ‘Gold Digger’ rapper once told students he would put a ‘jail’ at the school where they could be locked in cages.
Phillips also claimed West threatened to punch him during a ‘temper tantrum’ and often spewed antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric near students.