Kanye West is facing scrutiny again after skipping a scheduled deposition in a lawsuit filed by a former employee that accuses the rapper and fashion mogul of discriminatory conduct.
The legal case, brought by Benjamin Deshon Provo, a former security guard for the West Yeezy brand and Donda Academy, alleges racial bias and inappropriate workplace conduct.
West was expected to provide testimony last week in response to the lawsuit, but he was absent from the meeting, according to court documents.
Provo’s legal team reportedly notified West of the deposition earlier this month, but there has been no rescheduling or communication from West.
Court documents emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating: “It is critical that Provo’s attorneys obtain this deposition in a timely manner to establish all relevant facts in this case so that Provo can fully prosecute his claims and prepare for trial. Be prepared.
Now, Provo’s attorneys are seeking an order forcing the Grammy-winning artist to appear in court, with a hearing scheduled for February 11 in Los Angeles to resolve the issue.
In addition, Provo’s legal team filed a separate request for sanctions seeking $1,760 in damages for what they say was lost time by West’s failure to attend the deposition.
Provo originally filed the lawsuit in April, alleging that West “routinely screamed and berated Black employees” within the company and fired Provo when he refused to cut his braids — behavior the former guard claimed was discriminatory.
West’s legal team had previously sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that their client’s conduct during his time in Provo was “reasonable.”
“Kanye and members of his management team treated Provo and other black employees less favorably than white employees,” Provo’s attorney claims. “Specifically, Kanye frequently screamed and berated black employees, while in comparison , he never raised his tone toward white employees.”
Recent reports indicate that West currently lacks representation in the case, complicating his legal defense.
