News | Entertainment
1 Nov 2024 12:42
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Kanye West is being sued for racial discrimination from a former security guard

    The 46-year-old rapper is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Benjamin Deshon Provo - who worked for the 'All Day' hitmaker at both his Donda Academy school and at a warehouse used as storage for Yeezy clothing - in which the former employee alleged the controversial star subjected Black employees to "less favourable treatment than their White counterparts"


    Documents obtained by People magazine alleged Kanye "frequently screamed at and berated Black employees" and fired Benjamin for refusing to cut his dreadlocks.

    The security guard told how he began working for Kanye around August 2021 and after six months at Donda Academy, when the school moved locations he was "assigned additional job duties as a result of a lack of staffing, which included the 'Vultures' rapper's Sunday Service events and at his Yeezy warehouse. During that time, he alleged he was asked to place himself and paparazzi "in harm's way" by snatching cameras from waiting photographers.

    Additionally, Benjamin claimed Kanye made "anyone associated with Donda dispose of books related to Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and other prominent figures in the Black community" and alleged he was paid less than non-Black employees "for no discernible reason".

    The lawsuit accused Kanye of displaying a "stark difference" in the way he treated Black employees to other staff members and claimed he was "always abrupt, abrasive, and demeaning of Plaintiff and his Black counterparts."

    When the man complained about the pay disparity to his line manager John Hicks, he was told not to raise the topic with Kanye and shortly afterwards saw a "decrease in his paycheques", which his white colleagues didn't experience, and was told the rapper "can't afford security right now".

    In April 2023, the 'Bound 2' hitmaker allegedly "unjustifiably and unreasonably began demanding that Plaintiff and others shave their heads," despite Benjamin wearing his hair in dreadlocks "as an exercise of his Muslim faith."

    The document added: "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.

    "Kanye began to become increasingly more aggressive, demanding [and dec lared] '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 plaintiff is seeking damages for the alleged discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, labour code violations and for attorney fees, as well as a "preliminary and permanent injunction, and a public injunction, against all Defendants, prohibiting them from owning and operating any type of educational school for minor children under the age of 18 years in the state of California."

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     01 Nov: Olivia Rodrigo's songwriting process helps her to feel "sane"
     01 Nov: Shailene Woodley has "never had a problem with saying no"
     01 Nov: Teri Garr has died at the age of 79
     01 Nov: Tom Parker Bowles says his stepfather King Charles is "strong" amid his battle with cancer
     01 Nov: Brooklyn Peltz Beckham hopes to make his future children proud of their father by "making a name for himself"
     01 Nov: Kim Wilde and her ex-husband Hal Fowler "still talk" - almost two years on from their shock divorce
     01 Nov: Bruce Springsteen "changed" Thom Zimny's life
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Ethan de Groot has been left out of the All Blacks side to play England at Twickenham on Sunday for failing to uphold team standards More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand's cruise-ship sector generated just under 1.4-billion dollars in total economic output, during the 2023 to 24 season More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    Kiwis winger Will Warbrick is keen for another taste of international rugby league after scoring a try on debut against Australia 12:37

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Rodrigo's songwriting process helps her to feel "sane" 12:19

    Law and Order:
    Charges are being considered for a person - arrested following an indecent assault in South Auckland last week 12:17

    Entertainment:
    Shailene Woodley has "never had a problem with saying no" 11:49

    Business:
    New Zealand's cruise-ship sector generated just under 1.4-billion dollars in total economic output, during the 2023 to 24 season 11:47

    Law and Order:
    Philip Polkinghorne maintains his wife bought the meth found in his Auckland home 11:47

    International:
    Six Australians allege they were sexually assaulted by former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed, as 421 people come forward with allegations 11:27

    Entertainment:
    Teri Garr has died at the age of 79 11:19

    National:
    With Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk and Donald Trump, Republicans’ ‘strict father’ has become the creepy uncle 11:17

    Politics:
    The US presidential election gets the headlines, but Americans will also vote in thousands of down ballot races for everything from judges to tax collectors 11:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd