Kanye West is being sued by an ex-employee who claims the rapper threatened to shave the heads of Donda Academy students and ‘lock them in cages’ in an explosive new lawsuit filed Tuesday in LA.
In legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone, former Yeezy employee Trevor Phillips – who worked for the rapper’s design company before switching to the now-defunct school in California – claims West would ‘proudly’ express his anti-Semitic opinions in front of students.
Phillips – who began his nine month employment with West in November 2022 – further claims West told two children he ‘wanted to shave their heads’ and ‘intended to put in a jail at the school’ which cost $15,000 a year to attend.
The lawsuit also alleges West gave preferential treatment to white employees, pretended to masturbate in front of Phillips and threatened to punch him during a ‘temper tantrum.’
Phillips claims when he tried to push back against the rapper’s ‘bigotry’, the rapper ‘responded mercilessly, with incessant harassment, humiliation, and attempts to both mentally control, and destroy, Phillips’.
Kanye West is being sued by an ex-employee who claims the rapper threatened to shave the heads of Donda Academy students and ‘lock them in cages’ in an explosive new lawsuit filed Tuesday in LA (West pictured last month)
In legal documents , former Yeezy employee Trevor Phillips – who worked for the rapper’s design company before switching to the now-defunct school in California (pictured) – claims West would ‘proudly’ express his anti-Semitic opinions in front of students.
‘Kanye’s ill-will towards the plaintiff ultimately culminated in a vulgar lashing in front of schoolchildren and their parents. Kanye even threatened Phillips with physical violence.’
Phillips claims he suffered ‘severe discrimination, harassment, and retaliation’ from West while working for his design company.
Per the lawsuit, Phillips claims West began ‘spreading antisemitism’ in school meetings, including in front of some students.
He claims West said he ‘only likes to date white women’ and told employees that no one could be fat — otherwise they’d be fired.
West also allegedly boasted he used ‘$2 million of the school’s budget on a trip to Paris.
Phillips alleges West made anti-Semitic remarks during dinner at West at Nobu Malibu in December 2022 – claiming West described Jewish people as ‘miserly’ and branded Adolf Hitler an ‘innovator’ while allegedly claiming the Holocaust was ‘fake.’
Phillips claims West had hotel staff come to the room and put on 2022’s The Batman – with the men watching the film on mute.
While laying down, Phillips claims West ‘began to make slow up and down motions with his hand just above his genitals as though he was masturbating’ and spoke of his sex life.
The lawsuit also alleges West gave preferential treatment to white employees, pretended to masturbate in front of Phillips and threatened to punch him during a ‘temper tantrum’ (pictured 2020)
The rapper then allegedly FaceTimed a woman and asked her to wear lingerie and shoes he had bought for her – with Phillips ‘immediately recognized the female’s name because only a few weeks earlier, while at the Yeezy headquarters, Kanye had flaunted nude pictures of her to many of the Yeezy staff members.’
The lawsuit states: ‘What was meant to be a meeting with his boss about Donda Academy, its curriculum and horticulture, ended up being anti-Semitic and bigoted soliloquy-topped off with sexual harassment.’
Phillips alleges after the group received their dinner, West ‘began threatening the LGBTQ community’ alleging the musician said: ‘Yeah I’m going for the gays! FIRST the Jews, THEN the gays!’
Phillips claims West also alleged that Microsoft mogul Bill Gates ‘controls gay people so that they don’t have children for population control.’
Phillips – who is a black man – further claims West ‘treated black employees palpably worse than white employees’, would ‘scream and berate black employees, while never even as much raising his tone at the white staff.’
He alleges he ‘commanded’ a black campus security guard to ‘shave his dreads’ or be fired – with the employee ultimately resigning.
Phillips himself claims he was fired by West in May 2023 during one of his Sunday services – with West allegedly throwing a ‘temper tantrum’ and threatening to punch him.
Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown is pictured visiting the Donda Academy
West was allegedly unhappy with a garden Phillips tended and screamed at him in front of a crowd to ‘get the f*** out of here’ and that he was ‘f*****g fired.’
Phillips said he fought for his job as his daughter and little brother attended the school and due to his medical condition to which he claims West said: ‘Kanye raised his hand and pointed at Phillips’ neck condition and screamed: F*** your neck! Then pointing at the school, Kanye belched, ‘And f*** your daughter. I don’t give a f*** about none of that.’
The lawsuit claims West then ran to the gardens and attempted to destroy it but ‘too weak and out of shape – failed to pick them up. Instead, he started pulling out the plants and individual pieces inside the boxes, ripping them apart and throwing them on the floor, in a worse and more immature temper tantrum than any of even the youngest Donda schoolchildren had ever thrown.’
Phillips then claims West repeatedly threatened to ‘punch him in the face’ before he ‘imitating the celebratory dance of Mario from the famous video game Super Mario Brothers.
‘Kanye jumped up with punching one fist in the air, while he said “I’m gonna give you one more chance. Another life!’
After Phillips was charged with checking out a farm that West wanted to buy, he claims he was fired again – with his last day in August 2023.
Carney R. Shegerian, Phillips’ attorney told the publication: ‘By filing this lawsuit, we hope our injured clients’ 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.’
Phillips is suing West for discrimination, harassment, a hostile work environment and other claims. He is seeking ‘general and special damages exceeding $35,000, attorneys’ fees and wants an injunction preventing West from opening any type of school for kids under 18 in California.’
DailyMail.com has contacted West’s representative for comment.
The $15,000-a-year academy was opened by West in California in 2021. Ye now served as the Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of the institution.
Phillips – who is a black man – further claims West ‘treated black employees palpably worse than white employees’, would ‘scream and berate black employees, while never even as much raising his tone at the white staff’
The school was initially opened in Simi Valley, but was then moved to nearby Chatsworth.
According to prior reports, parents at the school were required to sign non-disclosure agreements to enroll their children at the $15,000 per-year academy.
Last June a former teacher who worked at two schools set up by West, sued him and his Christian academies over alleged health and safety violations and for dismissing the official when he complained.
The lawsuit alleged Yeezy Christian Academy, the predecessor to Donda Academy, had dire sanitation, electrical problems, and empty windows and skylights on account of Ye’s dislike of glass, as well as a slew of issues at the Donda Academy.
Isaiah Meadows, a former assistant principal at the academy, said he was suspended and later fired from the Southern California School after he made the complaints.
It was the latest in a string of allegations against Ye and his schools, which according to the Donda Academy website, are on a ‘mission to provide the youth with the passion, purpose and spiritual foundations they need to thrive in tomorrow’s world.’
A previous complaint, which a third person joined in June, alleged health, safety and education code violations, as well as illegal racial discrimination .
The same law firm that lodged the complaint filed a separate suit in which two other former teachers accused Ye and Donda Academy of wrongful termination.
In it, they painted a picture of a poorly runs school that has rampant bullying, rules that banned clothes that either weren’t black or designed by Ye, banned the use of forks, and no janitors or medical staff.
West is pictured with his wife Bianca Censori last month
On June 1, a third person – Timanii Meeks was added to the suit. The former teacher alleges she was fired last year for reporting a number of issues at the school.
A lawyer for Ye, Gregory Suhr, has previously denied the allegations made by former teachers, saying depictions of the academy as a ‘dystopian institution designed to satisfy Ye’s idiosyncrasies’ were untrue.
In a filing last week to the LA County Superior Court, Suhr said: ‘None of it is true and the allegations do a disservice to the Donda Academy’s current staff and students and their parents who will attest to their positive experience.’