Kanye West and his Donda Academy are being sued by two Black women who claim they were terminated from their teaching positions due to their race and for raising concerns about alleged violations of education, health, and safety codes at the school.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the plaintiffs say they were the only Black teachers employed by Donda Academy when they were hired full-time earlier this year. They claim they quickly became aware of numerous health and safety violations, unlawful educational practices, and strange rules at Kanye's school.
The lawsuit alleges that the sole lunch option provided to students was sushi, which was served every day, with students not permitted to bring any outside food or drink other than water. Kanye reportedly spent $10,000 per week on sushi for the school. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that the school did not allow crossword puzzles, coloring sheets, or artwork on the walls. It also alleges that Kanye was "afraid of stairs," which prevented classes from taking place on the second floor, and that he did not want children using forks or utensils.
The plaintiffs claim that chairs were not allowed in the school, forcing students to sit on foam cushions or stand, while teachers had to stand or use a stool. They also allege that everyone at Donda Academy was required to wear all-black clothing from head to toe, with Nike and Adidas brands forbidden. According to the lawsuit, the school doors were locked from the outside during the day, and students were not allowed to go outside until they went home.
The lawsuit alleges a lack of a janitor, school nurse, trash cans outside classrooms or in the kitchen, and proper storage for student medications. The plaintiffs also claim that there were no lesson plans or appropriate disciplinary procedures in place, leading to unchecked instances of bullying and physical assaults against peers and teachers.
When the teachers tried to address these issues, they were allegedly threatened not to contact Kanye. The women say they were ultimately fired and believe their termination was due to retaliation and racial discrimination. They also claim their paychecks were often short by up to $2,700 per pay period. The plaintiffs are now suing Kanye and Donda Academy for compensation.
Kanye's representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.