.jpeg) |
| Kanye West (Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) |
The lawsuit against Kanye West and his Donda Academy school took a surprising turn on Monday, with significant updates that could potentially impact the rapper's involvement. According to the lawsuit filed by former Donda teachers, Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers, they were wrongfully terminated earlier this year after raising concerns about work conditions and alleged wage violations.
The latest development in the case reveals that the directors of Donda Academy have been removed as defendants, although the reason behind this decision remains unclear. Hailey and Byers are now suing Kanye West and the school itself. The lawsuit, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, highlights that the two teachers were the only Black female educators at the Simi Valley school. They allege that their paychecks were unlawfully withheld and they were unjustly fired in March.
In a surprising move, the plaintiffs' attorneys have requested the dismissal of the case against academy directors Allison Tidwell, Brianne Cambell, and Chris Julian. The court documents do not provide any explanation for this request. Furthermore, Judge Robert B. Broadbelt, who is presiding over the case, has also instated a confidentiality agreement between the involved parties regarding certain documents and testimonies, including depositions.
Kanye West's attorneys have also sought to remove the renowned artist as a defendant in the lawsuit. The motion requesting this will be evaluated by Judge Broadbelt on January 4th. In their court papers, West's lawyers argue that he has no involvement with Donda Academy's policies or practices in relation to employee compensation and wage statements. They dismiss the plaintiffs' guilty-by-association theory as an attempt to attract media attention and pressure for a settlement. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether Kanye West will be completely dismissed from the case, as one accusation against him remains intact.
Donda Academy, of which Kanye West is the CEO, is a private Christian school. Hailey and Byers claim in their lawsuit that they experienced delays and inaccuracies in their pay throughout their employment. Byers specifically states that she never received her first paycheck. Both teachers assert that they were consistently underpaid by approximately $1,800 to $2,700 per pay period. They filed complaints with Donda Academy but were allegedly terminated in violation of labor laws, and were not promptly compensated upon termination.
The plaintiffs accuse Kanye West of violating state labor laws by consistently providing them with incorrect and delayed wage statements. However, perhaps the most scandalous aspect of this case is the fact that Kanye West was given permission to establish a school in the first place.
Additionally, Hailey and Byers claim that Donda Academy lacks an effective disciplinary system, resulting in severe bullying for some students. They also assert that the school lacks a dedicated cleaning staff due to Kanye West's aversion to chemical cleaning products, leaving teachers to clean with acid water and microfiber cloths.
According to the lawsuit, Hailey and Byers were informed about their termination in the academy's parking lot when they arrived for work on March 3rd.
.jpeg)
