Summary
- Kanye West faces another harassment lawsuit from ex-security guard, alleging racial discrimination and unfair treatment.
- Security guard claims Kanye demanded employees shave their heads, fired him for refusing due to his Muslim faith.
- Lawsuit adds to growing list of accusations against Kanye, affecting his financial situation and adult content venture.
There’s already been a lot of skepticism over Kanye’s new business venture – he wants to product adult content – given his controversial reputation and the toxic workplace allegations against him. He’s been in various legal trouble over the years connected to the accusations, with multiple cases filed by ex-employees.
Now, it appears Ye is facing another workplace harassment lawsuit, which could derail his new business plans, especially given previous reports the former billionaire is struggling financially.
Kanye West Started His Career By Working This Very Normal Job
He may now be one of the most famous people on the planet, but Kanye once had a very normal job that many people have worked in.
The new case has been brought forth by Benjamin Deshon Provo, who served as security for West, 46, at both his private institution Donda Academy and at a warehouse housing his Yeezy apparel line.
Among his allegations, the security guard alleges Ye showed a preference for white employees over Black ones. He also claims Kanye terminated him for refusing to trim his dreadlocks.
Why Kanye’s Security Guard Is Suing Him
Provo started working for Kanye around August 2021, serving six months at Donda Academy before its relocation, where he assumed additional responsibilities due to staffing shortages. His duties also extended to providing security at West's Sunday Service gatherings and overseeing safety at the Yeezy warehouse.
Court documents reveal Provo’s claims that he was instructed to engage with paparazzi, potentially risking his and their safety.
Moreover, his lawsuit highlights disparities in treatment, alleging preferential treatment for non-Black employees and lesser pay for Black counterparts without justification. Provo claims his paychecks dwindled after raising concerns, an issue allegedly not faced by non-Black colleagues, with management attributing it to financial constraints.
He was also directed to discard literature associated with influential Black figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Kanye Is Currently Facing Multiple Lawsuits From Ex-Employees
In April 2023, Kanye’s demands allegedly became more extreme, as he insisted Provo and other employees shave their heads, disregarding Provo's dreadlocks, which he says he wore as part of his Muslim faith. The plaintiff alleges to beig let go when he refused to comply.
“As a result of Plaintiff’s non-compliance with Kanye’s demands that his head be shaved, Hicks and Kanye began to exert pressure on Plaintiff to do the same,” his cout filing says. “Kanye began to become increasingly more aggressive, demanding” by announcing “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 documents continue.
Provo is currently seeking unspecified damages for what he allegedly was subjected to under Kanye’s employment, though the fashion designer hasn’t responded to the claims.
This adds to the growing list of grievances against West, who recently faced another accusation earlier this month from a different staff member, alleging discrimination and harassment during employment at the Donda Academy and within the Yeezy brand.
With Kanye personally admitting he almost went bankrupt this year, and his legal bisll growing, Ye perhaps won’t be able to afford his adult entertainment venture, though it looks like he may have already sank money into it.
