Kanye West is being sued in court by two former Donda Academy employees.
Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers, teachers at Ye’s Christian prep school, claim they were fired in March 2023 because of their race and as retaliation for reporting alleged code violations.
The women were the only Black, female teachers employed by Donda Academy when they were hired full-time earlier this year, according to the lawsuit obtained by Page Six.
They claim that despite reporting numerous health and safety violations as well as illegal educational practices to the school’s principal, nothing was done.
Among the claims are that students had only one meal option per day, sushi, and were not permitted to bring in outside food. Kanye allegedly spent $10,000 per week on sushi, according to the lawsuit.
West, according to the teachers, did not allow crossword puzzles or coloring sheets and did not allow children to go outside during the day, even for lunch or recess. Kanye was “afraid of stairs,” and he didn’t want children using forks or utensils, so classes couldn’t be held on the second floor.
Furthermore, the school lacked a janitor and a school nurse, and children’s medication was “stored in the janitorial closet.” The unaccredited Simi Valley, California, school’s doors were allegedly locked from the outside, resulting in a fire.
Among the claims are that students had only one meal option per day, sushi, and were not permitted to bring in outside food. Kanye allegedly spent $10,000 per week on sushi, according to the lawsuit.
West, according to the teachers, did not allow crossword puzzles or coloring sheets and did not allow children to go outside during the day, even for lunch or recess. Kanye was “afraid of stairs,” and he didn’t want children using forks or utensils, so classes couldn’t be held on the second floor.
Furthermore, the school lacked a janitor and a school nurse, and children’s medication was “stored in the janitorial closet.” The unaccredited Simi Valley, California, school’s doors were allegedly locked from the outside, posing a fire hazard. The lawsuit also claims that there were no lesson plans or proper disciplinary procedures in place, which resulted in students going unpunished for bullying and physically assaulting their peers and teachers.
The women claim they were eventually fired and were frequently underpaid by up to $2,700 per paycheck. They are suing Kanye and Donda Academy for wrongful termination and monetary damages.
In response to the teachers’ complaints, the school’s principal labeled them “aggressive in the presence of others.”
Donda Academy temporarily closed in the fall as a result of West’s anti-Semitic outbursts, and some faculty members resigned in protest. There were about 100 students in total at the time, with half of them receiving scholarships. Others were said to be paying $15,000 per year in tuition.
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