Kanye West and his Donda Academy school are being sued by two fired teachers who claim multiple education, health and safety codes were violated, even insisting that bullying ran rampant and that students were forced to eat lunch on the floor.
The women both say they were fired as retaliation for sounding the alarm on the alleged violations, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.
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Among other things, the two women claim that students were given one lunch option every single day: sushi. Other than water, they were not allowed to bring any outside food or drink into the school, all but ensuring they only ate sushi. Ye also didn't want children using forks or utensils, the suit says.
Kanye, who reportedly spent $10,000 a week on sushi, also didn't allow chairs in the unaccredited Christian school, forcing children to sit on foam cushions or stand. While teaching, teachers were allowed to stand or use a stool.
The lawsuit continues to paint a troubling picture of an unorthodox school, as the teachers allege Ye didn't allow crossword puzzles or coloring sheets, and they say all classrooms were on the first floor of the building because the rapper is "afraid of stairs."
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According to TMZ, the suit also claims Kanye did not allow artwork to be hung on walls, and no one was allowed to wear jewelry because he simply "did not like jewelry." Students were also forbidden from wearing Nike and Adidas products and were required to dress in black from head to toe.
Also, Donda Academy didn't have a janitor and there were no trashcans outside classrooms or in the kitchen, the suit says. Allegedly, there wasn't a school nurse on staff, and student medications were stored unsecured in a closet with other expired medications.
The women further claim the building's doors were locked and students were not allow to venture outside until school was out for the day. Even recess was held indoors at all times.
Teaching, the women claim, was complicated by the fact that no lesson plans or proper disciplinary procedures were in place. The school, they say, was rife with bullying and physical assaults against peers and teachers.
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Citing the lawsuit, the webloid says the women tried to bring attention to these issues but were "threatened" and told not to reach out to Kanye under any circumstances. Also, the women say the school consistently stiffed them in their paychecks by upwards of $2,700 per pay period.
Ultimately, the women — who are both Black — were fired, which they attribute to racial discrimination and retaliation.
The Donda Academy has had a topsy-turvy few months, and the drama appeared to be tied to Kanye's antisemitic rants last fall. On Oct. 27, 2022, Donda Academy announced that it was shuttering for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year, "effective immediately." The school's principal claimed they would reopen for the 2023-2024 school year, but shortly after, parents received an email from the school claiming it had reopened.
