An ex-employee of Kanye West, Benjamin Deshon Provo, has filed a lawsuit against the controversial American rapper, claiming discriminatory behavior towards black staff.
Provo, who worked as a security guard at Donda Academy, accused West of mistreating black employees and terminating his contract after he refused to trim his dreadlocks.
In the legal complaint lodged in Los Angeles, Provo asserted that he experienced “emotional distress” due to West’s actions, including the demand to cut his hair, which he declined citing his Muslim beliefs.
Additionally, Provo alleged discrepancies in pay, stating that white employees were paid $5 more per hour than their black counterparts.
Furthermore, he claimed that West prohibited books related to Black history at Donda Academy, such as those about iconic figures like Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr., echoing accusations made by former teacher Cecilia Hailey in a lawsuit from April 2023, scheduled for trial in April 2025.
Provo is seeking compensation for alleged discrimination, creating a hostile work environment, retaliation, labor code violations, and other charges.
Notably, Kanye West previously stirred controversy with a viral video where he asserted that his family is not “Black but Indian.”