Kanye West has failed to appear at a lawsuit deposition in Los Angeles over claims of racial discrimination against a former staffer, it has been reported.
The Bound 2 hitmaker, 47, is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Benjamin Deshon Provo, a former security guard, who worked for him at both his Donda Academy school and at a warehouse used as storage for Yeezy clothing.
The former employee alleged the controversial star subjected Black employees to ‘less favourable treatment than their White counterparts.’
Documents obtained by People alleged Ye ‘frequently screamed at and berated Black employees’ and fired Benjamin for refusing to cut his dreadlocks.
In response, Ye claimed his actions were ‘justified’ and he previously tried to have the case dismissed.
Now it is reported West was 5,000 miles away in Tokyo when the deposition was due to take place last month, according to filings seen by The Sun.
New court documents seen by the publication read: ‘Defendant Kanye West has unilaterally failed to appear for his scheduled deposition on October 28, 2024.
‘It is crucial that Provo’s counsel obtain this deposition in a timely manner to ascertain all relevant, pertinent facts in this case to allow Provo to fully prosecute his claims and prepare for trial.’
Provo’s legal team is now attempting to get an order for Ye to sit the deposition on February 11, 2025 instead.
‘Provo will also move for an order awarding sanctions against Defendants in the amount of $1,760 to compensate Provo for his time and expenses in litigating the instant motion,’ the filing allegedly read.
The former security guard said he began working for Ye in August 2021 and during his time working for the rapper, he alleged he was asked to place himself and paparazzi ‘in harm’s way’ by snatching cameras from waiting photographers.
He alleged that at the Donda Academy – Ye’s private Christian which allegedly even required parents to sign a non-disclosure agreement – the rapper made ‘anyone associated with Donda dispose of books related to Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, and other prominent figures in the Black community’.
He also alleged he was paid less than non-Black employees ‘for no discernible reason’.
The lawsuit accused Ye of displaying a ‘stark difference’ in the way he treated Black employees to other staff members and claimed he was ‘always abrupt, abrasive, and demeaning of Plaintiff and his Black counterparts.’
When the man complained about the pay disparity to his line manager John Hicks, he was told not to raise the topic with Ye.
Shortly afterwards, he saw a ‘decrease in his paycheques’, which his white colleagues didn’t experience.
He was also told the rapper ‘can’t afford security right now’.
In April 2023, the Bound 2 hitmaker allegedly ‘unjustifiably and unreasonably began demanding that Plaintiff and others shave their heads,’ despite Benjamin wearing his hair in dreadlocks ‘as an exercise of his Muslim faith.’
The document added: ‘As a result of Plaintiff’s non-compliance with Ye’s demands that his head be shaved, Hicks and Ye began to exert pressure on Plaintiff to do the same.
‘Ye began to become increasingly more aggressive, demanding [and declared] “It is time for you to shave your heads. I am not messing around.’
‘However, Plaintiff refused. Thereafter, Hicks approached Plaintiff and stated, Kanye said, “Tell the one with the dreads to shave his head or he is fired.” Plaintiff refused to shave his head, and as a result thereof, his employment was terminated.’
The Plaintiff is seeking damages for the alleged discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, labour code violations and for attorney fees.
In Kanye’s initial response, his legal team claimed: ‘Defendants are informed and believe, and based on such information and belief, allege that Defendants were justified in doing any and/or all of the acts alleged in the Complaint.’
Ye has been contacted for comment.
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