Revamped: Kanye West's Donda Academy Undergoes Major Changes as Ex-Teachers Fight Rap Mogul in Court
Kanye West is rebranding Donda Academy with a focus on choir, dance, and more.
March 5 2024, Published 6:30 p.m. ET
The Christian private school founded by Kanye West has undergone several changes as the rapper rebrands the institution amid ongoing legal drama with two of its former teachers.
RadarOnline.com has learned he has revamped the school as Donda Ray Academy, a nod to his mother and father after it moved to a new location in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley.
The school is being revamped as Donda Ray Academy, a nod to West's mother and father after it moved to a new location in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley.
Donda Ray has a fresh focus on basketball, choir, and dance, and the Yeezy fashion designer went further by recruiting top choreographers to help teach pupils, according to a new report.
The school also offers vocal training, as touted in a Jan. 19 post shared via their new Instagram account, which has nine posts since it launched in December 2023.
An insider told The U.S. Sun in an update that West "was determined not to give up on the kids" despite the school being embroiled in scandal in recent months.
Donda Ray has a fresh focus on basketball, choir, and dance, according to a new report, and the Yeezy fashion designer went further by recruiting top choreographers to help teach pupils.
As we previously reported last year, the Eazy hitmaker was sued by two former teachers from Donda Academy over several health, safety and educational violations.
The duo claimed there was a lack of bullying prevention, no janitorial or medical services, and that the institution did not follow "nutrition guidelines," alleging that West forked over "$10,000 a week on sushi" for the kids' school lunches instead of providing them with a well-balanced meal.
As we previously reported last year, the hitmaker was sued by two former teachers from Donda Academy over several health, safety and educational violations.
"No action was taken to remedy Plaintiffs' complaints regarding sanitation, health, safety or education standard pursuant to local and state law, which Plaintiffs made throughout the entirety of their employment," per the lawsuit filed by plaintiffs Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers in L.A. Superior Court last April.
Hailey and Byers said they were labeled "aggressive" for asking questions and "this type of comment facilitates stereotypes about African-American women as being confrontational simply for doing their job and voicing their legitimate concern."
Among the shocking allegations were claims that children had been forbidden to use forks or utensils and were required to wear black head-to-toe.
Donda denied wrongdoing in a response to the suit while West also asked for all claims against him personally to be dismissed.
"Only West's issued or designed apparel was allowed to be worn. Nike and Adidas brands were forbidden," the lawsuit read.
Both teachers said they were fired "on or around" March 3, and they believe it was "in retaliation for their complaints about Defendants' unlawful and unsafe educational practices."
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However, as RadarOnline.com told you first, Donda Academy denied all claims of wrongdoing and demanded the judge toss their lawsuit.
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West also asked for all claims against him personally to be dismissed and argued he had no role in the day-to-day operations of Donda.
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