Kanye West's Donda Academy closed amid fallout over antisemitic remarks: report

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Friday, October 28, 2022
Kanye West's Donda Academy reportedly closes amid fallout
Kanye West's Donda Academy, the Simi Valley private school, has reportedly closed as the fallout continues following his antisemitic remarks.

LOS ANGELES -- Kanye West's Donda Academy, the private school that he founded, has reportedly closed as the fallout continues following his antisemitic remarks, which prompted a number of companies and individuals to speak out against him.

According to a report from The Times of London, the Simi Valley school closed effective immediately. A post by West that has since been deleted appeared to confirm that report, but no other details were available.

That report appears to be based off an email sent to parents. It reads, in part: "Dear Donda Academy Families- we hope this email finds you well. First we would like to express our gratitude for the community of families and scholars that Donda Academy brought together. However, at the direction of our Founder, Donda Academy will close for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year effective immediately."

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A news photographer at the scene Thursday morning captured video of the property, which appeared to be deserted. A number of notices from delivery carriers, dated Sept. 27, 30 and Oct. 12 , were also seen on a trespassing sign on a chain-link fence.

RELATED: Kanye West's anti-Semitic comments condemned by Illinois Holocaust Museum, Anti-Defamation League

The rapper, whose legal name is Ye, took to Instagram late Wednesday night in a post directed toward Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor Talent Agency, who urged companies to cut ties with him.

In the post, he wrote about how lost $2 billion in one day but that he's still alive. He went on to say the money is not who he is, but that it's more about the people.

Kanye West had to be escorted out after showing up to one of the Los Angeles corporate offices of Skechers uninvited on Wednesday, the company said.

The rapper's post came after he had to be escorted off the Skechers headquarters in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. According to a statement by the footwear company, West arrived "unannounced and without invitation."

"Considering Ye was engaged in unauthorized filming, two Skechers executives escorted him and his party from the building after a brief conversation," read the statement.

The company confirmed it's not considering and has no intention of working with the rapper.