Kanye West ‘fails to appear’ for lawsuit deposition after ex-staffer claims he ‘berated him for refusing to cut dreads’

KANYE West was more than 5,000 miles away in Tokyo when he was meant to be appearing for a court deposition in Los Angeles in one of his many civil cases, filings show.

The embattled rapper, who has been in Japan for weeks with his wife Bianca Censori, failed to give testimony under oath last month.

Kanye’s ex-security guard Benjamin Deshon Provo is suing the star for racial discrimination and unfair practices.

Provo, who worked for his Yeezy fashion brand, along with his private school, Donda Academy, from 2021, first filed his suit in April.

He alleges he was berated and fired for refusing to cut his dreadlocks, while the star also allegedly demanded other staff and children shave their heads.

In a legal response, Kanye claimed his actions were “justified” and previously tried to have the case dismissed.

New court documents seen by The U.S. Sun read, “Defendant Kanye West has unilaterally failed to appear for his scheduled deposition on October 28, 2024.

“It is crucial that Provo’s counsel obtain this deposition in a timely manner to ascertain all relevant, pertinent facts in this case to allow Provo to fully prosecute his claims and prepare for trial.”

Provo’s legal team is now moving for an order to compel Kanye to sit for the deposition with a hearing set for February 11 in Los Angeles.

“Provo will also move for an order awarding sanctions against Defendants in the amount of $1,760 to compensate Provo for his time and expenses in litigating the instant motion,” the filing reads.

‘NO RESPONSE’

On October 14, 2024, Provo properly noticed the deposition through the mail to Kanye’s alleged counsel at an address in Pasadena, according to the filing.

The notice was also sent to his Yeezy HQ on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, which is currently gutted and under construction after Kanye had the roof removed.

But the 47-year-old dodged the deposition, and on October 30 “Plaintiff attempted to meet and confer with counsel for Defendant and the witness.”

To date, they have not provided a response or any alternative dates, according to the filing.

Attorney Brian Brumfield, who previously represented Kanye, claimed in filings that the rapper stopped speaking to him and refused to pay after he terminated their relationship in June.

According to the docket, a judge granted his motion to be relieved as counsel and attorney Manoj Shah of Brand Counsel sought an extension for discovery issues.

“However, neither Mr. Brumfield, Mr. Shah, nor any other attorney who has held themselves out as a representative of Defendant has served any responses to the discovery at issue,” the filing alleged.

Kanye currently has no legal representation for multiple other civil cases brought by ex-staffers.

The U.S. Sun reached out to Brand Counsel for comment.

The star has been pictured in Tokyo several times and is not thought to have been in Los Angeles for months.

Provo’s lawsuit alleges Kanye and members of his management team subjected Provo and other Black employees to “less favorable treatment than their white counterparts.”

Kanye would walk the grounds of Donda approaching staff and children and demanded that they shave their heads.”

Provo's legal team alleged in the lawsuit

“Specifically, Kanye frequently screamed at and berated Black employees, while in contrast, he never so much as raised his tone of voice toward white staff,” the complaint read.

“The treatment Provo was subjected to on the basis of his race was compounded by the dreadlocks he wore as a devout follower of the Muslim faith.

“In April 2023, Kanye unjustifiably and unreasonably began demanding that Plaintiff and others shave their heads.

“Notably, Kanye would walk the grounds of Donda approaching staff and children and demand that they shave their heads.

“Plaintiff objected, as to do so would hinge upon the practice of his faith.

“Notably, Kanye began to become increasingly more aggressive, demanding, ‘Alright y’all, it is time for you to shave your heads. I am not messing around.’ However, Plaintiff refused.”

‘PAIN AND ANGUISH’

Provo’s manager then allegedly approached him 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 filing alleges.

The lawsuit claims Provo suffered “psychological and emotional distress, humiliation, and mental and physical pain and anguish.”

In Kanye’s initial response, his legal team claimed, “Defendants are informed and believe, and based on such information and belief,
allege that Defendants were justified in doing any and/or all of the acts alleged in the Complaint.”

Provo’s suit, which has a trial date set for 2025, is not the only case involving former staff at Donda Academy.

Ex-teacher Cecilia Hailey is suing the rapper along with former colleagues for wrongful termination.

Speaking exclusively to The U.S. Sun in an on-camera interview, she laid bare what it was allegedly like behind the walls of the secretive school in Chatsworth, a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles, in the months after Kanye’s antisemitism scandal in November 2022.

Hailey, whose case also has a trial date set for next year, described the school as being more like a “zoo” and alleged any push-back on Kanye’s wild demands fell on deaf ears.

She claimed Kanye wanted the children to learn to march and shoot guns, which was backed up by a second teacher involved in the lawsuit.

There is no indication that children at the school ended up marching or completed rifle training or that families who had to sign NDAs were aware of the plans. 

Kanye and Donda Academy never responded to multiple requests for comment on the new claims, and the star denied any wrongdoing in the main lawsuit.

The U.S. Sun also requested comment from then-principal Moira Love, who did not respond.

Hailey also alleged the school had a serious bullying issue and students would cower under tables as physical fights broke out, but she was not allowed to discipline the kids.

“There were armed guards outside, but the kids were not safe inside,” she claimed.