A Los Angeles judge has ordered Kanye West to sit down for a deposition in a lawsuit brought by a former Donda Academy employee.
The ruling gives the rapper and founder of the defunct Academy just 30 days to appear in person and answer questions from opposing counsel. The case stems from a complaint filed in April 2024 by Trevor Phillips, who says he worked for both Donda Academy and West’s Yeezy brand.
In court filings, Phillips alleges he endured repeated harassment, discrimination, and retaliation while employed. He accuses West of openly sharing antisemitic views with staff, berating Black employees, and even suggesting he wanted to shave students’ heads and build a jail on school grounds.
Phillips’ lawsuit outlines 11 causes of action, including discrimination, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in his complaint. He is seeking damages and an injunction to bar West and his companies from operating schools for minors in California.
According to legal documents obtained by Complex, Phillips’ legal team has made several unsuccessful attempts to get West to testify. The judge’s latest order sets a strict deadline and aims to ensure West faces questioning in person after months of delays.
Phillips’ complaint also describes instances where West allegedly praised Adolf Hitler, denied the Holocaust, misused school funds, and subjected employees to unsafe working conditions. The allegations paint a disturbing picture of the environment at Donda Academy before its shutdown in 2023.
When the lawsuit was first filed, Phillips’ attorney Carney R. Shegerian issued a statement on the matter: “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.”
