"Gays are controlled by Gates" and other pearls: lawsuit accuses Kanye West of racism toward African-Americans, judeophobia and homophobia

In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, a former employee accused Kanye West of racism against African Americans and claimed to have witnessed homophobic and anti-Semitic outbursts from West. Trevor Phillips, an African American, alleged that West would scold and humiliate him in front of others - several employees noted that West treated African American workers worse than white ones.

“During his tenure, Phillips never saw West yell at a white person and curse them, but in countless instances he saw and/or personally felt Kanye yell at dark-skinned individuals,” the lawsuit states.

Phillips was hired in November 2022 to work at Yeezy, West's fashion brand, and at Donda Academy, his private school. According to the complaint, his job involved overseeing a project to grow cotton and other crops as part of a self-sustaining community development plan.

At that time, West's career was plummeting after a series of anti-Semitic remarks on Twitter and Adidas had just backed out of a lucrative deal with him. The lawsuit also alleges that West made anti-Semitic rants during meetings with Donda Academy staff, including once in the presence of two children.

• Phillips was present when West made statements such as "Jews want to get me" and "Jews steal all my money," the lawsuit claims. He also told the two children at the meeting that he wanted to shave their heads and build a prison at the school where children could be locked in cages, according to the lawsuit.
• Shortly after Phillips was hired, West invited him to a meeting at the Nobu hotel in Malibu, where West allegedly praised Hitler and said he hated Jews, according to the lawsuit. He also claimed that "Jews are working with Adidas to freeze my money," the lawsuit states.

According to the complaint, West demanded hotel staff to play "The Batman" movie starring Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz in the lead roles for him and Phillips to watch with zero volume. The lawsuit states that West lay on his back on the bed and mimicked masturbation during the movie playback while discussing orgies.

• The lawsuit also quotes West making derogatory remarks about gays during a meeting, saying that they are “controlled by Bill Gates, so they have no children to control the population.” It also mentions other alleged discriminatory behaviors in the following weeks, including West ordering a black security guard to shave his dreadlocks or face dismissal.

Phillips claims that in May 2023, West publicly humiliated him during a "Sunday service" at Donda Academy, described as a "pseudoreligious sermon where Kanye and the choir play gospel music." According to the lawsuit, West singled out Phillips and yelled at him, in front of over 100 people, telling him he was "damn fired" and that he needed to "get the hell out of here."

Seemingly unhappy with the school garden, West tried to explain that he was not responsible for it. Phillips talked to West, tears running down his face, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to work for him, the lawsuit says. In response, West cursed at him and threw a tantrum, ripping some plants from the ground.

West also threatened to punch Phillips in the face, the lawsuit states. Then he had a change of heart. Pretending to punch the air in a festive dance like Mario from the video game Mario Bros., West said he would give Phillips "one more chance."

He then ordered him to go to a farm in Fillmore, California, to speak with the owner and report back to West with a recommendation on whether to buy it. According to the lawsuit, Phillips went home and cried.

“His dream of working for someone he once admired was crushed like his spirit. Although Kanye considered himself a god or king, he was actually an evil tyrant and despot who sought to mentally destroy and control those around him,” the lawsuit states.

Later that day, Phillips visited the farm, inspected it, and told West his impressions. The lawsuit states that West said he would buy it and appoint Phillips. However, the next day West texted him: “You're still fired. You're not on that level.”

Since then, Donda Academy has closed, although there have been talks of its revival. The lawsuit seeks to prohibit West from owning and managing the school. It also includes claims of racial discrimination, retaliation, and unlawful termination.

Source: Variety