Ex-worker sues Kanye for $23M

Benjamin Provo, a former Donda Academy security guard, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Kanye West, Yeezy LLC, and Donda Academy Incorporated seeking 23 million dollars in damages.

Provo claims he was told to cut dreadlocks

Provo says West and his team instructed him to cut off his dreadlocks during his 2022 employment and terminated him when he refused. He had worn the dreadlocks for over a decade as symbols of his Black culture and Muslim faith.

Three-year tenure at Donda Academy

Provo worked as a security guard for Donda Academy for three years. He was hired by Donda Academy Inc., Yeezy LLC, and West in April 2022 and also provided security for West's Yeezy business and Sunday Service events.

Case filed in April 2024

Provo initially filed the wrongful termination case in April 2024. The trial is scheduled to commence on October 12, 2026.

West denies all discrimination claims

West and his legal team have denied all claims made by Provo regarding the dreadlock directive and termination.

No HR department or policies

Provo claims West's organization had no Human Resources department and maintained no policies regarding discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The company provided no training on these subjects.

“maintained no policies regarding discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, nor did they provide any training on these subjects”

Yiannopoulos on company culture

Milo Yiannopoulos, West's chief of staff and second-in-command, testified that employees with thin skin about racially charged remarks should not work there. He said the company did not support woke codes of conduct.

“If you have really thin skin about racially charged remarks… this really is not the company for you”

Provocative speech expectations

According to Provo's filing, Yiannopoulos stated that employees working at Yeezy between 2023 and 2024 must accept the provocative way West talked about religion.

“If you're working at Yeezy between 2023 and 2024, you must accept the provocative way Ye talked about religion”

No woke conduct codes

Yiannopoulos said in company policy that Yeezy does not support any type of woke code of conduct for employees mandating acceptable speech.

“Yeezy doesn't support any type of "woke" code of conduct for employees mandating acceptable speech”

Books about Black leaders removed

Around mid-2023, West directed that anyone associated with Donda dispose of books related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and other prominent Black community figures.

West's stated rationale

West said the rationale behind removing these books was to cease the indoctrination that creates a group think mindset. He claimed he was very heavy into pushing that agenda as a Christian.

Provo disputes employment status

Provo told the court that denials from West and his team that he was not their direct employee are demonstrably false, as he had been hired by Donda Academy Inc., Yeezy LLC, and West.

Black and Muslim identity

Provo is Black and Muslim. He said in legal documents that he had grown out his dreadlocks for over a decade and cherished them as a symbol of his Black culture and Muslim faith.

Termination after refusal

Provo was terminated from his position when he refused to cut off his dreadlocks as instructed by West and his team.

Lawsuit allegations summary

Provo alleges wrongful termination based on discrimination over his dreadlocks, lack of HR protections, absence of anti-discrimination policies, and a hostile work environment regarding race and religion.

October 2026 trial date

The case is headed to trial on October 12, 2026. Both parties have been contacted for further comment on the allegations.

Yiannopoulos involvement

Milo Yiannopoulos, West's one-time chief of staff, is named in the case. His testimony about company culture and policies is central to Provo's discrimination claims.