A former staffer at Kanye West's Donda Academy has filed a motion seeking to prevent the musician from using mental health issues as a defense in their ongoing legal dispute over alleged workplace discrimination.
Benjamin Provo, who worked at the academy in 2021, argues in court documents obtained by TMZ that West should be barred from claiming he was of unsound mind during the events at the center of the lawsuit. According to the filing, Provo contends that West is attempting to introduce this defense immediately before trial despite never previously producing documentation or testimony on the matter.
The motion asserts that even if mental health were relevant to the case, West has failed to provide medical records or designate an expert witness to address how any mental health conditions might have affected his conduct during the period in question.
Provo points to testimony from West's own deposition as evidence that the rapper acknowledged being in sound mind during the relevant timeframe. When asked whether he felt he was not himself around the time he operated the Donda Academy, West responded that the period represented him being close to himself, though he acknowledged that people change over time.
During the deposition, West stated that he sometimes intends to do good but still ends up in legal proceedings. He also admitted to preferring employees maintain a uniform appearance but denied terminating Provo because of his hairstyle.
The underlying lawsuit alleges that Provo was dismissed from his position due to wearing dreadlocks. The complaint further claims that West treated Black employees more harshly than White employees at the academy.
According to TMZ, West has separately requested that the court exclude evidence of his social media posts praising Nazi and Hitler from being presented at trial.
West has denied the allegations in the lawsuit. The case is currently scheduled to proceed to trial, though the specific timing remains subject to court scheduling.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
