Why would Kanye West, a figure deeply rooted in Black culture, impose such a controversial demand? 👀
Cut Your Dreads or your Fired
A 2024 lawsuit revealed that Kanye West demanded employees, including Benjamin Deshon Provo, to shave their dreads for a more professional look!
Provo, who kept his dreadlocks for religious reasons, resisted the demand. Despite his refusal, West and his manager, John Hicks, continued to pressure him, ultimately leading to Provo’s termination.
Provo’s attorney highlights that this demand was not only unreasonable but discriminatory, given the personal and religious significance of his dreadlocks.
Kanye Expresses he was right to do so
Kanye West reportedly claims that his decision to fire Provo for not cutting his dreadlocks was justifiable.
According to court documents, West’s legal team argues that the rapper’s actions were based on legitimate business purposes and denies any wrongful conduct.
They assert that West was exercising his rights as an employer to enforce certain standards.
Dreadlock Discrimination at the Workplace
Dreadlocks have long been a point of contention in professional settings, often facing bias despite their cultural and personal significance.
The perception of dreadlocks as unprofessional is a form of discrimination that affects many. Kanye West’s actions, despite his own background as a Black American, reflect a troubling aspect of how cultural expressions are often policed in the workplace.
This incident brings to light the broader issue of how personal appearance is scrutinized, raising questions about why certain hairstyles are targeted.
Life as a Barber
What’s even more interesting is that before his rise to fame, Kanye West worked as a barber and not a very good one, by his own words.
As a barber, West would have had clients with a variety of hairstyles, including braids and dreadlocks.
One might expect that his experience in this setting would foster a deeper understanding and compassion for employees who wish to maintain their hairstyles for cultural or traditional reasons.
Given this background, the demand for Provo to cut his dreadlocks raises the question: Was Kanye right to make such a demand? Let us know what you think.