A former employee of Kanye West has filed a lawsuit, accusing the controversial artist of harassment, discrimination…
On April 3, Trevor Phillips filed a lawsuit against rapper Kanye West , also known as Ye, as well as his Yeezy Company and private Christian school Donda Academy based in Los Angeles.
In the lawsuit, which CNN obtained documents, Phillips accuses Kanye West of “treating black employees significantly worse than white employees,” calling the discrimination “egregious.”
Rapper Kanye West has always been making noise lately
REUTERS
“Even during class, Kanye would yell and berate black employees, while never even raising his voice at white employees as much. Often, Kanye took aim at them,” the lawsuit alleges. Phillips – a black man – not only with harassment and discrimination but with complete contempt.”
This former employee also alleged that he witnessed Kanye West “spewing hatred and defamation, anti-Semitism, and threats to the LGBTQ+ community.”
The lawsuit states: “Already at a disadvantage because of his skin color, once Phillips resisted Kanye’s bigotry and law violations, he became an even greater target…Kanye’s malice toward the final plaintiff Together, it culminated in vulgar lashing out in front of students and parents. Kanye even threatened Phillips with physical violence.”
According to the lawsuit, Phillips was hired around November 2022 to work for West’s Yeezy fashion brand, but his position eventually expanded to work at Christian Donda Academy, the school that West founded and named after West. according to his late mother.
In October 2022, West wore a T-shirt with the words “White Lives Matter” printed on it and dressed several black models in outfits with the same phrase during the show. YZY at Paris Fashion Week.
Then, in a 45-minute Drink Champs podcast episode at the end of October 2022, the rapper made many offensive, anti-Semitic comments, causing financial consequences for him and his brand partners.
The April 3 lawsuit refers to West’s comments and social media posts at the time.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian divorced at the end of 2022
REUTERS
“In interviews, Kanye West reprehensively boasted and advocated anti-Semitism and repeated offensive tropes and hatred of Jews,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit also alleges that West “proudly boasted and discriminated against Jews during a meeting at Christian Donda Academy.” Phillips added: “On multiple occasions, I witnessed Kanye spew profanities at the staff.”
Christian school Donda Academy closed in 2023, but the lawsuit says, “the school remains in operation today.”
CNN has reached out to Christian Donda Academy for comment. However, the school’s phone number on the California Department of Education website is no longer active.
In the lawsuit, Phillips also alleges that he had a three-hour meeting with Kanye West, claiming that the male rapper praised Hitler and said that “gay people are not true Christians.”
The lawsuit states that Phillips’ employment at Christian Donda Academy ended in August 2023. Phillips is asking for a jury trial and seeking a minimum of $35,000 in damages.
In December 2023, Kanye West posted an apology to the Jewish community for the “unintended outburst of words or actions” caused by him.