Kanye's Ex-Employee Seeks $23M for Alleged Discrimination

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Kanye West‘s former employee Benjamin Provo is seeking nearly $23 million in damages, claiming he was terminated from Donda Academy for refusing to cut his dreads. Provo, who is Black, contends the decision amounted to racial discrimination and is part of a broader pattern of discriminatory practices at the institution.

According to court documents filed in the case, Provo alleges that Kanye West and his team created a hostile work environment during his 2022 tenure. Beyond the hairstyle issue, Provo claims the academy removed all books by prominent Black leaders from its curriculum and maintained policies that discouraged employees from raising concerns about race-related conduct.

The deposition of Milo Yiannopoulos, who served as Kanye’s chief of staff, offers a window into the academy’s culture. Yiannopoulos testified that employees with sensitivity to racially charged remarks should consider working elsewhere, and that staff at Yeezy between 2023 and 2024 had to accept Kanye’s “provocative” approach to discussing religion.

The statement paints a picture of an organization where employees were expected to tolerate conduct that Provo characterizes as discriminatory rather than voice objections or concerns.

Kanye’s legal team has taken a different approach in their defense. They argue that Provo was never directly employed by Kanye or his entities, but rather hired through a third-party staffing agency. This distinction could significantly impact the case, as it would affect the degree of liability Kanye bears for workplace conditions and decisions.

The $23 million figure reflects Provo’s estimate of damages related to wrongful termination and the alleged harassment he experienced. As the case proceeds, the central question will be whether Kanye’s organization maintained a discriminatory environment and whether he bears direct responsibility for the employment relationship and the decision to terminate Provo.

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