Ye’s Donda Academy directors have been removed as defendants in a lawsuit filed by two former teachers who claim they were unjustly terminated after raising concerns about work conditions and wage violations. Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers are suing Kanye West (formerly known as the rapper) and the school itself. They assert that as the only Black female teachers at the Simi Valley school, their wages were illegally withheld and they were wrongfully fired in March.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys have filed court papers with Judge Robert B. Broadbelt, requesting dismissal of the case against academy directors Allison Tidwell, Brianne Campbell, and Chris Julian. The reasons behind this decision have not been disclosed in the court papers.
Judge Broadbelt has also approved an agreement to keep certain documents and testimonies confidential, including depositions.
On January 4, Judge Broadbelt is expected to rule on a motion by Kanye West’s attorneys to have him removed as a defendant. The former teachers’ lawsuit accuses him of violating the state Labor Code by consistently providing inaccurate and delayed wage statements.
“The truth is, Kanye West has no involvement in the policies, practices, and procedures related to employee pay and wage statements at Donda Academy,” argue West’s lawyers in their court filings. “The plaintiffs are well aware of this fact. However, as is often the case with Kanye West, a renowned artist and entrepreneur, they have baselessly included a guilt-by-association theory in their complaint to generate media attention and pressure for a settlement.”
Donda Academy is a private Christian school, with Kanye West serving as its CEO. Hailey and Byers allege that their paychecks were consistently incorrect or late during their employment.
Byers specifically claims in the April 6 lawsuit that she never received her first paycheck. Both plaintiffs state that they frequently experienced pay discrepancies of roughly $1,800 to $2,700 per pay period. They reported their concerns to Donda Academy and believe they were terminated in violation of the Labor Code. Additionally, they assert that they were not promptly paid the wages owed to them upon termination.
The teachers also contend that the academy lacks an effective disciplinary system, leading to severe bullying among some students. Furthermore, they argue that the school does not employ a cleaning staff because Kanye West opposes the use of chemical cleaning products, leaving teachers responsible for cleaning with acidic water and microfiber cloths.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs were informed of their termination in the academy’s parking lot when they arrived for work on March 3.
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