Ye, formerly Kanye West, accused of 'spreading antisemitism' at Donda Academy in new lawsuit
Ye is being sued by a former employee of the private school he founded, Donda Academy, for various accusations including the Grammy award-winning artist allegedly “spreading antisemitism” and telling students he wanted to "shave their heads," according to the suit.
Trevor Phillips is suing Ye, his Yeezy fashion brand and Donda Academy after he "suffered severe discrimination, harassment and retaliation directly by Kanye West," the 42-page suit obtained by USA TODAY details. Phillips filed the suit Tuesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Phillips, who worked for the former Kanye West's Yeezy fashion line and Donda Academy school for nine months, said issues with the mogul began after he "pushed back against Kanye’s bigotry and instructions to violate the law," according to the suit.
In October 2022, Ye received national backlash after posting on Twitter, now known as X, that he was going “death con 3 on Jewish people." Phillips said he was hired the next month to work for the Yeezy clothing line, the suit says.
On several occasions, Phillips said he witnessed Kanye "spew forth hate, profess antisemitic tropes and lies, threaten the LGBTQ+ community and even on one occasion, almost sexually stimulate himself," according to the suit.
USA TODAY contacted Ye's company, Yeezy Supply, but did not receive an immediate response.
Ye treated black employees 'considerably worse than white employees,' Phillips says
Phillips is also accusing Ye of treating black staff "considerably worse than white employees," the suit details.
"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," Phillips claims. "Often, Kanye targeted Phillips – a black man – not just with this disparate and harassing behavior, but complete and utter disdain"
When Phillips voiced his concerns about Ye's behavior, and being "already at a disadvantage because of his skin," the former employee "became an even bigger target," according to the suit.
"Kanye responded mercilessly, with incessant harassment, humiliation, and attempts to both mentally control, and destroy, Phillips," the suit alleges. "... Kanye even threatened Phillips with physical violence.”
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In addition to retaliation allegations, Ye allegedly told students "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 suit says.
The former employee went on to accuse Ye of singing the praises of Hitler in front of students, calling the Chicago native's words a “dangerous rhetoric."
Ye showed Donda Academy employees nude photos of sex partners, Phillips says
Other claims in the suit include Ye allegedly showing nude photos of his sex partners to employees and instructing Phillips to do electrical work and other renovations at Donda Academy without proper electrician experience or permits.
Ye would fire and rehire Phillips spontaneously, the former employee said in the suit. He referenced an incident in May 2023 when Ye threatened to punch him in front of dozens of staff and students after the "College Dropout" rapper didn't like the garden Phillips had been tending to.
“Kanye raised his hand and pointed at Phillips’ neck condition and screamed, '(Expletive) your neck!’” according to the suit. “Then pointing at the school, Kanye belched, ‘And (expletive) your daughter. I don’t give a (expletive) about none of that.’”
Phillips is demanding an amount exceeding $35,000 for damages, the suit said.
“By filing this lawsuit, we hope our injured client’s rights are vindicated, and that the famous artist Mr. West understands that his messages - which we alleged preach discrimination, antisemitism and Hitler-love - have no place in the world,” Carney R. Shegerian, Phillips' attorney, told USA TODAY in a statement.
It is unclear if Donda Academy is open. It was reported the school closed on October 27, 2022, after Ye's antisemitic comments on social media, but it reopened hours later, according to multiple reports.