Kanye West accused of discrimination, hateful rhetoric

Kanye West is accused of fostering a hostile work environment in which he discriminated against Black employees, engaged in hateful rhetoric about the LGBTQ community and Jews, and threatened to lock students at his Donda Academy in cages.

The complaint, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, names West, his apparel company Yeezy LLC, and his school, Donda Academy. It alleges 11 causes of action including discrimination in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, hostile work environment harassment in violation of FEHA and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. It was filed by Carney R. Shegerian of Shegerian & Associates.

The plaintiff, Trevor Phillips, alleges that he was hired around November 2022 to oversee projects growing cotton and other plants for materials in West’s clothing line, Yeezy, as well as food for a self-sustaining community of the same name. A few weeks later he was allegedly tasked with planning the conversion of a property West owned in Calabasas into a new Donda campus. West allegedly promised to pay Phillips $100 per hour with the expectation that Phillips and his team would be on call around the clock.

The experience of working “for one of the most famous artists of his generation” who “represented the possibilities of what a Black man could accomplish in America” was marred by West’s alleged abuse, which culminated with West berating, threatening and firing Phillips in front of more than 100 people, according to the complaint.

“From the start of Phillips’ tenure working at Yeezy and Donda, it was immediately apparent to him, and others, that Kanye treated the Black staff considerably worse than white employees. Even when class was in session, Kanye would scream and berate Black employees, while never even as much raising his tone at the white staff. Often, Kanye targeted Phillips – a Black man – not just with this disparate and harassing behavior, but complete and utter disdain,” Shegerian wrote in the complaint. Trevor Phillips v. Yeezy LLC et al., 24STCV08222 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed April 2, 2024).

Phillips’ suggestions were routinely turned down, and identical suggestions later by white employees were implemented and praised, the complaint alleges. West allegedly gave a Black security guard an ultimatum to shave his dreads or be fired.

During a meeting at the Donda Academy, West allegedly told two schoolchildren that he wanted them to shave their heads and that they could be locked in cages.

“The staff quickly distracted the children, and escorted them out of the room,” the complaint said. “Kanye also told the employees in that meeting that no staff could be fat – otherwise he would fire them.”

Donda Academy’s principal did not respond to an emailed request for comment and the name of the school’s attorneys. The school’s telephone number listed with the California Department of Education appeared to be disconnected on Wednesday and the school’s website, Donda.org was down.

Phillips alleges that he heard West on many occasions articulate racist clichés about Jews, including claims that Jews were stealing his money and were out to get him. He alleges that West feigned masturbation and made threats about members of the LGBTQ community.

“Yeah I am going for the gays! First the Jews, then the gays,” the complaint quotes West as allegedly saying. “Gay people are not true Christians. And gay people are controlled by Bill Gates so that they don’t have children for population control,” West allegedly continued.

Phillips seeks general, special and exemplary damages. He also seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting all defendants from owning and operating any school for children in California.

West has won 24 Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone named him one of the 100 greatest songwriters of all time. He has also been condemned for his public statements praising Adolf Hitler and denying the Holocaust, which cost him lucrative endorsements with Adidas and Balenciaga.

West opened the Donda Academy in 2022. It is unaccredited, reportedly offers a Christian curriculum and parents are required to sign non-disclosure agreements about the school. The school’s former assistant principal sued in July 2023 alleging various safety issues at the Simi Valley location, including lack of electricity, lack of glass in a skylight and a septic tank that routinely overflowed. He alleges eight wage and labor causes of action. A status conference is scheduled for April 30. Isaiah Meadows v. Yeezy Christian Academy, et al., 23STCV15676 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed July 6, 2023).