Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has asked a Los Angeles judge to push his discrimination trial back from October 12, 2026 to May 2027, citing his tour schedule and the deportation of his chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos over visa issues.
The case was brought by Benjamin Provo, a former security guard at Ye's Donda Academy, who is seeking $23 million. Provo, who sued in April 2024, alleges that Ye demanded he shave his dreadlocks — which Provo says carried religious significance tied to his Muslim faith — and fired him when he refused. Provo says Ye told staff he "hated" the hairstyle. The suit further alleges that Ye treated Black employees less favorably than their white counterparts, objected to books about prominent Black figures, and cut Provo's pay after he raised concerns about discrepancies. Ye and the other defendants have denied the allegations.
In court documents, Ye's attorneys asked the court to move the trial to May 17, 2027, or another workable date. They argued that significant preparation remains unfinished because Provo and his attorney have not been cooperative during depositions and document discovery — and Ye is separately seeking sanctions against Provo and his lawyers over the pretrial conduct. The filing also points to the October 12 date clashing with planned concerts in Russia on October 10 and 11. St. Petersburg's Gazprom Arena, initially announced as the venue, reportedly backed out last month, leaving the promoter searching for another location — though the shows remain on Ye's calendar.
The filing additionally cites Milo Yiannopoulos, the former Yeezy chief of staff, whom Ye's lawyers describe as one of the people most knowledgeable about the allegations in the lawsuit. According to the filing, Yiannopoulos was "recently and very publicly deported" by U.S. immigration authorities over visa issues, further complicating the defense's preparation. Yiannopoulos has said Ye contacted him after the deportation and that he is back at work managing the rapper's lawyers remotely.
For now, the October 12 trial date remains in place — the filing does not automatically change it, and the judge has not yet ruled on the postponement request. Provo has been fighting the case since April 2024, and the broader examination of Donda Academy by the Los Angeles Times lent his claims wider attention. Whether the court grants Ye a seven-month reprieve will be decided in the coming days.
The discovery dispute sits at the legal core of the request. Ye's filing states that "despite months of repeated requests from defendants, plaintiff Benjamin Deshon Provo has refused to sit for deposition, and his counsel has refused to offer any dates for his deposition." Provo's side has not publicly responded to the delay request. If the judge denies it, the October 12 trial date stands — with Ye's Russia concerts, currently without a confirmed venue after Gazprom Arena backed out, looming just days before opening statements.