The lawsuit filed against Kanye West by Benjamin Provo is heading toward trial, with the rapper’s own deposition testimony now at the center of a new legal dispute. The former Donda Academy employee wants a judge to prevent West from arguing that he was of “unsound mind” during the events behind the discrimination case. With an October trial approaching, Provo claims West raised the issue too late and that his previous testimony contradicts the defense he now wants to make.
Benjamin Provo’s Lawsuit Puts Kanye West’s Words in Focus
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Provo is seeking to block West from claiming he was of “unsound mind” when the alleged discrimination occurred. Provo worked at Donda Academy beginning in 2021. Provo argues West never previously produced medical records or testimony supporting the issue. He also says West has not selected an expert to explain how any mental health issues could have affected the conduct at the center of the lawsuit.
More significantly, Provo claims West “repeatedly indicated that he had been of sound mind during the events underlying the case.” He points to West’s deposition, during which the rapper was asked, “Do you feel like around the time you had the [Donda] school, you were not yourself around that time?”
West answered, “No. I think that was close to me being myself, but people change, though, too,” before adding, “sometimes I intend to do good and still end up in deposition.” According to TMZ, West also said he liked employees to have a uniform look but denied firing Provo because of his dreadlocks.
Ex-Staffer Says Kanye West Raised the Defense Too Late
Provo first sued West in April 2024, alleging racial discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination during his time working as a security guard at Donda Academy. In his complaint, obtained by TheWrap, Provo alleged that he “suffered severe discrimination, harassment and retaliation by Kanye West.”
The former employee also claimed, “Kanye frequently screamed at and berated Black employees, while in contrast, he never so much as raised his tone of voice toward white staff.” Provo, who is Muslim, further alleged that he was told to cut his dreadlocks or lose his job. His lawsuit also accused West of objecting to books about prominent Black figures.
“During Plaintiff’s employment, Kanye openly expressed his displeasure with Black authors. Specifically, in or around mid-2023, Kanye required that anyone associated with Donda dispose of books related to Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and other prominent figures in the Black community,” the lawsuit states.
The complaint further alleges West “expressed negative beliefs associated with prominent Black leaders that advocated for or sought to advance the Black community. Such offensive opinions were particularly troubling to Plaintiff, who is unapologetically Black.”
Kanye West Faces Another Fight Over Evidence Before Trial
The dispute over West’s state of mind is not the only evidentiary issue emerging before trial. West has also asked the court to exclude social media posts involving praise of Nazis and Adolf Hitler, arguing that the material is unrelated to Provo’s workplace claims and could unfairly prejudice the case. West has denied Provo’s allegations.
The broader legal battle is Benjamin Deshon Provo v. Yeezy LLC et al., case No. 24STCV10470, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in April 2024. MyNewsLA reported that the pretrial dispute is before Judge Brock T. Hammond, with a nonjury trial scheduled for Oct. 12. Provo’s lawyers said West’s mental health came up during an Aug. 24 meeting between attorneys discussing pretrial motions. They claim West’s counsel would not agree to exclude his “documented mental health issues,” but could not identify legal authority supporting mental illness or insanity as a defense to civil liability.
Provo’s attorneys also argue mental health was never included as an affirmative defense in the defendants’ answer. The same meeting revealed another evidentiary disagreement. West’s counsel raised his charitable contributions to Black individuals and organizations. Provo wants that evidence excluded, arguing the donations have no relevance to his discrimination and other employment claims. Provo initially sought more than $35,000 in damages and an injunction preventing the defendants from operating schools for minors in California. Hammond must now determine what evidence and arguments will be permitted when the case reaches trial.
