A former Kanye West employee has filed a lawsuit accusing the controversial singer of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, among other claims.
Trevor Phillips filed the case on Tuesday against the rapper, whose legal name is Ye, his Yeezy brand, and Donda Academy, a K-12 Christian private school in Los Angeles.
Phillips claims in the lawsuit that West “treated the black staff considerably worse than white employees,” describing the prejudice as “severe.”
Kanye West Accused Of Discrimination And Harassment By Former Employee
“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,” according to the complaint. “Often, Kanye targeted Phillips – a black man – not just with this disparate and harassing behavior, but complete and utter disdain.”
The ex-employee further claims that he saw West “spread hate, profess antisemitic tropes and lies, threaten the LGBTQ+ community, and almost sexually stimulate himself.”
“Already at a disadvantage because of his skin color, once Phillips pushed back against Kanye’s bigotry and instructions to violate the law, he became an even bigger target,” according to the lawsuit. “In return, Kanye responded mercilessly, with constant harassment, humiliation, and attempts to both mentally control and destroy Phillips.” Kanye’s hostility against the plaintiff eventually culminated in a profane lashing in front of students and their parents. “Kanye even threatened Phillips with physical violence.”
According to the lawsuit, Phillips was hired in November 2022 to work for West’s Yeezy fashion business, but his role later grew to include work at Donda Academy, the school West created and named after his late mother.
In October 2022, West wore a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt and dressed many Black models in clothes with the same message at his YZY runway show during Paris Fashion Week; the Anti-Defamation League has linked the slogan to the Ku Klux Klan.
Later that month, in a 45-minute “Drink Champs” podcast episode, the rapper made a slew of obscene and antisemitic remarks, resulting in financial consequences for him and his branding partners.
Kanye West Accused Of Discrimination And Harassment By Former Employee
West proceeded to make comments that some regarded as antisemitic and anti-Black.
The suit refers to West’s comments and social media posts from the period.
“During those interviews, Kanye boastfully and deplorably championed his deep-rooted antisemitism and hate for the Jewish people, echoing tropes that have stereotyped Jews for much of history,” according to the complaint.
The lawsuit also claims that West “proudly touted his discriminatory conspiracies of Jews during a meeting at the Donda Academy.” According to Phillips, “on several occasions, witnessed Kanye preach to his staff obscenities.”
“Fearing for their jobs and also to de-escalate Kanye’s absurdities (so that the two present school children did not hear), the school staff did their best to ignore him,” according to the complaint. “However, in front of the two schoolchildren, Kanye continued his dangerous rhetoric.”
According to the suit, Kanye “started to openly discuss how he only likes to date white women,” and at one point, told two schoolchildren “that he wanted them to shave their heads and that he intended to put a jail at the school – and that they could be locked in cages.”
The school purportedly closed in 2023, but the lawsuit states that “on information and belief, Donda Academy still operates to this day.”
Kanye West Accused Of Discrimination And Harassment By Former Employee
CNN contacted the Donda Academy for comment. The phone number listed for the school on the California Department of Education website is no longer active.
Phillips also claims in the lawsuit that he had an uncomfortable three-hour discussion with West during which his then-boss bragged about Hitler and declared, “Gay people are not true Christians.”
According to the lawsuit, Phillips’ employment with Donda Academy ended in August 2023.
Phillips is seeking a jury trial and at least $35,000 in damages.
West expressed regret to the Jewish community in December 2023 for any “unintended outburst” that his “words or actions” may have caused.
SOURCE – CNN
