Why did Kanye West fire his former security guard Benjamin Provo? Rapper files to get discrimination lawsuit dismissed, saying he was "justified"

American rapper Kanye West is often seen at the helm of controversies and headlines. According to In Touch Weekly, Ye has asked the California court to dismiss the recent lawsuit filed against him by his former security guard, who accused him of racism and wrongful termination. In the statement given by Ye's lawyers, it is mentioned that:

“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."

In the lawsuit filed in April 2024, the plaintiff of the suit, Benjamin Deshon Provo, alleged that Ye engaged in intentional infliction of emotional distress, in addition to whistleblowing retaliation and wrongful termination. Kanye's former security guard is also asking for a settlement of over $35000 and a jury trial.

Ye allegedly fired Provo because he did not comply with his demand for employees to shave their heads, given that Provo exercises the Muslim faith.

“Indeed, at the direction of Kanye, Provo was given the ultimatum, cut his hair, or be fired,” Provo’s lawyers claimed in the lawsuit, as per PEOPLE.

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Details of Provo's lawsuit against Kanye West explored

According to details of the lawsuit covered by PEOPLE, Deshon Provo started working for Kanye West in August 2021. He worked at the Donda Academy for six months before the academy moved to a new location, and his job profile was changed due to a lack of staff. He also performed security duties for the Yeezy warehouse and Ye's Sunday Service events.

Charlie Wilson (L) and Kanye West attend the ceremony as Charlie Wilson is honored with star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on January 29, 2024 (Image via Getty)

The details of Provo's complaint mentioned that Kanye and members of his management team asked the former security guard to choose between "self-identity and financial stability."

Additionally, in the details of the lawsuit, it is alleged that Kanye West required all Donda Academy employees to dispose of literature related to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, and other important figures in the Black community. The complaint also mentions that Provo noticed a difference in how Kanye treated himself and other Black employees compared to the non-Black employees.

According to details of the complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Provo alleged that he was paid less than the non-Black employees "for no discernible reason" and used words like "abrupt, abrasive, and demeaning" to describe Kanye West's behavior toward Black employees.

Jared Leto and Kanye West attend VOGUE World: New York (2022) (Image via Getty)

Citing an incident on the pay parity incident, Provo's complaint mentions that when he complained about it to the direct manager of Ye's company, John Hicks, the response was:

“Don’t bring up money to Ye. He doesn’t like to talk about money.”

Moreover, Provo's paychecks allegedly witnessed a decrease in the amount shortly after he raised a complaint, and he mentioned that this did not happen with other Black employees. The reason that John Hicks gave for it was that Ye's company couldn't afford security at that moment.

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This is not the first time an employee has sued Kanye West. In another case from April 2024, former Yeezy and Donda Academy employee Trevor Phillips sued the rapper for spewing antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+, hateful comments in front of students.

Additionally, Kanye West has also been sued by former Yeezy Chief of Staff Lauren Piscotta for s*xual harassment. The evidence submitted in Lauren's lawsuit comprises lewd text messages and videos allegedly from Kanye's end. However, Kanye responded to Lauren's allegations by calling her claims baseless and accusing her of blackmail.