Home / Arts and Entertainment / Kanye West Faces $23M Lawsuit Over Dreadlocks
Kanye West Faces $23M Lawsuit Over Dreadlocks
15 Sep
Summary
- Former employee seeks $23 million in damages from Kanye West.
- Allegations of discrimination based on hairstyle (dreadlocks).
- Claims Kanye West removed books by prominent Black leaders.
Benjamin Provo, a former employee of Kanye West's Donda Academy, is seeking substantial damages, potentially up to $23 million, in a lawsuit against the musician. Provo alleges that he faced discrimination in 2022 based on his hairstyle, specifically his dreadlocks. He claims his refusal to cut his hair led to his termination.
Further allegations in the court documents state that Kanye West also removed books authored by prominent Black leaders from the Donda Academy premises. This aspect of the lawsuit adds another layer to the claims of discrimination and a hostile environment.
During the legal proceedings, former chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos was deposed. Yiannopoulos reportedly testified that individuals with "really thin skin about racially charged remarks" might find Donda Academy unsuitable. He also indicated that employees in 2023 and 2024 would need to accept Kanye West's provocative discourse on religion.
Kanye West, in his defense, has argued that Provo was not directly employed by him but by a third-party company utilized for hiring purposes.
