Kanye West, the man, myth, and controversy, had his hands in several ventures and controversies over the years. The musician, known for his impeccable style in both fashion and music, slid into a dark hole with his erratic behavior. But, Paris Fashion Week 2022 was the beginning of the end for him. He debuted new Yeezy shirts with ‘White Lives Matter’ printed on them. Since then, he has gone on a spree spewing hate against Jews, which has made the industry ostracize him. But, in 2022, another controversial project came into the picture, which was the ‘Donda Academy.’
The faith-based school, Donda Academy, was established in August 2022. The school opened in Simi Valley, California later shifted to Chatsworth. The school, on the surface, seemed like a regular one, with extracurricular activities, a choir, and other academic-related facilities. However, many scrupulous uncertainties were looming over the academic institution. The parents had to sign a Non-Declaration Agreement (NDA) to admit their ward to the school. The educational qualifications of the staff, along with the principal, were questionable. Now, a lawsuit filed by two of the teachers substantiates the suspicions about Ye’s venture.
Kanye West’s Donda Academy Has Flouted School Regulations
Kanye West is again in knee-deep legal problems with two former teachers from Donda Academy, Cecilia Hailey, and Chekarey Byers, having filed a lawsuit. The mother and daughter has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging Kanye West’s institution of nonpayment of dues, health violations, and a volatile environment. Hailey joined the school in November 2022, and her daughter came as a fifth-grade teacher in January 2023. The lawsuit claims that the two were the “only African American” teachers in the school.
Cecilia Hailey, who has been in education system for 25 years, complained of “multiple health and safety violations, as well as unlawful educational practices.” The lawsuit alleges a volatile environment due to unattended bullying instances, stating a lack of a “proper disciplinary system.” Another prominent complaint that surfaced in the lawsuit was the daily sushi lunch. The lawsuit alleged, “Students were not allowed to bring any outside food or anything other than water.”
There was a murky color code at the Donda Academy. The ‘Jesus Walks’ rapper prohibited “color in the classrooms or artwork hung on the walls.” The mugs and bowls were gray. The students’ uniform was all black. He did not allow the school to have classes on the second floor due to his fear of stairs.
There was no furniture, so the students had to sit on foam cushions for lunch and during school hours. There were neither janitorial services nor a school nurse. The teachers had to clean with acidic water and microfiber cloths, as West does not believe in “cleaning products containing chemicals.”
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The Teachers’ Lawyer Claims That Kanye Is Bad At Running School
The Donda Academy had been problematic since the inception. The former principal of the school did not have a formal education to hold the position. Ye was obliging parents sign NDAs for kids going to school, treating the institution like one of his business ventures. The institute was not accredited. It seemed like a dump for the products from his business venture. The uniforms were from Gap; Mascotte Holdings produced bags, shoes, jackets, etc.
The attorney representing Cecilia and Chekarey, Ron Zambrano, commented on Kanye’s incompetence. Ron said, “Kanye West is clearly as bad at running a school as he is at managing his own personal and professional life, enabling an unsafe and illegal school environment for students that also discriminated against the plaintiffs based on their race.”
The attorney continued, “These egregious violations at Donda Academy are just another example of West’s unusual behavior, and our clients just won’t stand for it, no matter his celebrity status. Kanye needs to realize his genius is in creating music, not in school administration.”
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