Kanye West’s long-running legal battle with former Donda Academy Employee Benjamin Provo is heating up ahead of trial. Provo is asking the court to stop the rapper from relying on an “Unsound mind” argument when the case reaches a jury.
The former staffer is reportedly turning West’s own words against him. He’s pointing to the rapper’s own deposition testimony where he said he was “close to me being myself” during the period at the center of the lawsuit.
Provo’s legal team argues that the remark undercuts any attempt to suggest that the rapper was not of sound mind at the time.
Per TMZ, which obtained the new court filing, Provo is making an attempt to block West from using an argument regarding his mental state at the trial.
The former security employee claims the rapper failed to produce evidence during the discovery process that would support such a defense.
Provo reportedly argues that West did not provide medical records, expert testimony, or other evidence to establish that he truly was of “Unsound mind” during the period in question. His legal team believes that should prevent the rapper from using the argument once the case reaches a jury.
No ruling has been made on the request at this time.
Kanye West’s Own Deposition Testimony Could Complicate That Defense
Beyond the alleged lack of medical evidence, Provo is also pointing to West’s own sworn testimony as another reason the mental state argument should be kept out.
During his deposition, the rapper was reportedly asked whether he felt he was “not yourself” during the period in question. “No. I think that was close to me being myself,” West allegedly replied. The rapper also reportedly remarked, “Sometimes I intend to do good and still end up in deposition.”
Provo’s legal team is now citing those comments as evidence that West’s own description of his mental state is in direct conflict with any attempt to argue the opposite. Whether the court agrees with that interpretation of events remains to be seen.
This New Motion Comes Just Before Their October Trial
The latest filing comes as West and Provo prepare to take their years-long legal dispute to trial in October. As The Blast previously reported, Provo sued the rapper back in 2024 after working as a security employee for Donda Academy and other properties connected to West.
In his original lawsuit, Provo accused West of discriminating against Black employees and alleged that they were treated differently from their white counterparts. He also claimed that West demanded he cut off his dreadlocks, and later proceeded to fire him after he refused the order.
So far, West has denied any wrongdoing in the case. The new filing does not introduce another allegation against the rapper, but rather focuses on what West will be allowed to argue in his defense once the case reaches a jury.
Kanye West Wants His Controversial Social Media Posts Excluded from Trial
West is making his own effort to limit some of the material that could eventually be presented to the jury. According to a separate TMZ report, the rapper’s legal team has asked the court to prevent Provo from introducing a large collection of West’s controversial posts on social media at the trial.
The rapper’s attorneys reportedly argue that the posts could unfairly influence the jury against West and are not relevant to the former employee’s specific claims. Provo, on the other hand, wants to introduce some of the material as evidence to support his case further.
This gives the judge another major issue to settle before the October trial. The court will have to determine the relevance of the posts, weighed against their potential to create any prejudice on the part of the jury.
Bianca Censori Could Potentially Be Called As A Witness
Kanye West’s wife, Bianca Censori, could also be drawn into the courtroom drama when the trial begins in October. She was previously reported to be among 22 potential witnesses who may be called in connection with the case.
She has been closely connected to the rapper’s business world in addition to their marriage, making her knowledge potentially relevant to certain parts of the dispute. West himself and Former Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos is also reportedly among the potential witnesses identified.
However, despite being listed as potential witnesses, there’s no guarantee that any of them would actually be called to testify.
