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Kanye West Faces Lawsuit From Ex-Employee Alleging Discrimination, Harassment

Kanye West Faces Lawsuit From Ex-Employee Alleging Discrimination, Harassment

April 4, 2024

A former employee of Kanye West, Trevor Phillips, has filed a lawsuit against the artist and his businesses, Yeezy LLC and Donda Academy. The lawsuit alleges discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and unsafe work environment.

A Lawsuit Against Kanye West

Kanye West, is facing a lawsuit from a former employee who alleges racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Kanye West Faces Lawsuit From Ex-Employee Alleging Discrimination, Harassment

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, names West, his Yeezy apparel brand, and Donda Academy, the private Christian school he founded. The plaintiff, Trevor Phillips, alleges West subjected Black employees to a hostile work environment, while giving preferential treatment to white staff.

Kanye West Faces Lawsuit From Ex-Employee Alleging Discrimination, Harassment

Hate Speech and Violence

According to the lawsuit, Phillips was hired in November 2022 and worked for both Yeezy and Donda Academy. The suit details instances of alleged verbal abuse and discriminatory behavior by West, including:

Screaming and berating Black employees while not raising his voice to white staff members.

Making antisemitic remarks and expressing hatred towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Discussing racist and anti-Black ideologies.

Creating a threatening and unsafe work environment for staff and students.

Kanye West Faces Lawsuit From Ex-Employee Alleging Discrimination, Harassment

A Minimum of $35,000 In Damages

The lawsuit also references West's past controversies, including his "White Lives Matter" t-shirt and antisemitic comments on the "Drink Champs" podcast.

Phillips claims he was fired in August 2023 and is seeking a minimum of $35,000 in damages.

This lawsuit comes amid ongoing scrutiny of West's behavior. In December 2023, he issued an apology to the Jewish community, but the legal case raises questions about workplace conduct and the environment at Donda Academy.