Former Donda Academy and Yeezy employee Trevor Phillips files lawsuit accusing Ye of shocking behavior.

Photo: Damian Dovarganes/AP Images

As it turns out, Ye or the artist formerly known as Kanye West may not be the best boss in the world. Trevor Phillips, a former employee of the rapper’s Donda Academy and Yeezy fashion brand, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Tuesday that accuses Ye of racism, homophobia, antisemitism, and harassment against both the school’s students and employees like Phillips.

The 42-page complaint details Phillips’ experience working for Ye, including alleged incidents of unpredictable terminations, late-night, unexpected summons to Nobu (a luxury restaurant), and witnessing Ye watch a movie on mute.

“From the start of Phillips’ tenure working at Yeezy and Donda, it was immediately apparent to him, and others, that Kanye treated the Black staff considerably worse than white employees,” according to the lawsuit. “Even when class was in session, Kanye would scream and berate Black employees, while never even as much raising his tone at the white staff.”

Phillips’ lawsuit also alleges that the plaintiff saw West “spew forth hate, profess antisemitic tropes and lies, threaten the LGBTQ+ community, and even on one occasion, almost sexually stimulate himself.” Phillips also allegedly witnessed West harassing Donda Academy students by threatening to shave their heads and lock them in a cage.

Phillips alleges that he experienced ongoing abuse and humiliation in front of colleagues and was never compensated after Donda Academy’s closure in August 2023. West has expressed plans to reopen the school in the future. Phillips is seeking punitive damages and a jury trial.