Ye Reaches Tentative Settlement With Ex-Security Guard
Former Donda Academy guard Benjamin Deshon Provo and Ye have tentatively settled a lawsuit over his 2023 firing.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap
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Ye and former Donda Academy security guard Benjamin Deshon Provo have tentatively settled Provo's lawsuit, according to court papers filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court. No settlement terms were disclosed.
Why it matters
The filing signals that the dispute over Provo's firing and religiously motivated dreadlocks will not proceed to trial in its current form. The case raised questions about how employment separations tied to religious practice are handled in the entertainment and music business.
The court notice, filed Friday, confirms a conditional resolution rather than a final judgment, and a dismissal request is expected by Dec. 21. Settlement amounts and terms remain undisclosed, so the financial outcome cannot be assessed.
The players
Ye
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West, whose Donda Academy and Yeezy businesses employed Provo.
Benjamin Deshon Provo
A former Donda Academy security guard who filed the lawsuit alleging religious discrimination over his dreadlocks.
Best Way Protection
The security firm that hired Provo in 2021 and billed Donda Academy for his services.
The details
Provo alleged that Ye fired him in 2023 for refusing to shave his dreadlocks, which he keeps in keeping with his Muslim faith. Ye's attorneys argue the separation was not tied to any demand about his hair and that Best Way Protection, which employed Provo and billed Donda Academy for his services, fired him for allegedly continuing to leave his post.
Timeline
2021: Best Way Protection hires Provo.
2023: Ye fires Provo, and Provo shaves his dreadlocks after struggling to find new work.
April 2024: Provo files suit in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Friday: Provo's attorneys file notice of a conditional resolution.
Dec. 21: Expected deadline for a request to dismiss the case.
Legal Context
Provo's claim invokes California's employment protections for religious practice under the Fair Employment and Housing Act. The settlement leaves that question unresolved as a matter of law, since no court ruling on the merits was issued.
For fans and industry observers, the settlement means this particular employment dispute will not produce a public trial. Any future developments will depend on whether the dismissal request is filed as expected by Dec. 21.
The takeaway
Employment disputes involving religious practice can be resolved privately even when they draw public attention. Workers facing similar situations should document the stated reason for any separation and understand the protections available under state law.
What happens next
A request for dismissal is expected to be filed by Dec. 21, which would formally close the case if the settlement is finalized.
Further reading
For more on the artists and industry figures behind this dispute, explore Hip-Hop and Rap coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by My News LA.
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