A Los Angeles Superior Court judge is being asked to weigh in on what should and shouldn't be discussed during the upcoming trial involving Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Attorneys representing Benjamin Deshon Provo, a former security guard for Ye’s Donda Academy, have filed papers seeking to prevent the rapper from arguing he lacked a sound mind during the period of the alleged workplace discrimination. The nonjury trial is set for October 12.
Provo filed his lawsuit in April 2024, contending that Ye, now 49, chided him for wearing dreadlocks. Provo states this hairstyle is practiced in keeping with his Muslim faith. He worked for both Donda Academy and Yeezy, Ye’s apparel company, and his suit alleges that members of the rapper's management team forced him to choose between "critical aspects of his self-identity and financial stability."
The request from Provo’s lawyers comes after a curious back-and-forth from Ye's legal counsel. In court papers filed Thursday, Ye’s lawyers asked Judge Brock Hammond to exclude any evidence about Ye’s mental unfitness, citing the artist’s own deposition testimony where he affirmed he was mentally fit. However, Provo’s legal team stated in their papers that during an August 24 meeting to discuss pretrial motions, Ye's defense counsel was "certainly not agreeing" to exclude evidence of Ye's "documented mental health issues." Ye's counsel reportedly suggested these issues "relate to the things he (Ye) says," yet, according to Provo’s attorneys, they "could not identify any case law or authority" to support using mental health issues as a defense to civil liability.
Provo’s lawyers argue that, as a fundamental matter, Ye’s alleged insanity or mental health conditions are "per se irrelevant" to any of the liability of the singer, Yeezy LLC, or the Donda Academy. They further pointed out that Ye’s attorneys did not cite mental health as an affirmative defense when they responded to Provo’s initial lawsuit.
In a separate but related request, Provo’s attorneys are also asking that Ye’s legal team be barred from mentioning any of the rapper’s charitable donations. These contributions to Black individuals and groups were also brought up by Ye’s counsel during the August 24 meeting. Provo’s lawyers contend that such donations are "wholly irrelevant" to their client’s central claim that he was subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. It appears the judge will have some preliminary matters to sort out before the October trial.