Donda Academy, a private school founded by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is facing some heat following Ye’s antisemitic comments.
The school’s basketball team was scheduled to compete in the Play By Play Classics basketball event in December, but the organization announced Tuesday it will no longer be hosting the team “in light of recent anti-Semitic statements by Kanye West.” Donda’s team is currently in its second year, with Ye founding the still-unaccredited school some three years ago.
“Kanye’s words and actions violate our values as a company and as a country, and what we seek to ensure at all of our events — a spirit of diversity, sportsmanship, inclusion, equity, and mutual respect,” a statement from the tournament read. “While we are firm in our reasoning for this decision, it does not diminish our heartache and regret for Donda’s hardworking student-athletes who will lose out the most as a result of Kanye’s actions.”
— Play By Play Classics (@PBPCLASSICS) October 25, 2022
“Unfortunately we cannot in good conscience host an organization founded and directed by Mr. West at our events,” the statement said.
Donda Academy is a Christian school with a studentwide daily worship service and choir. The kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum includes core classes of language arts, math, and science, as well as “enrichment” classes including world language, visual art, film, and parkour, according to its website. Its motto is, “To be a reflection of God’s glory in the world.”
Its student population is 82 students, with a self-reported ratio of teachers that is 10:1. Roughly 20 of its male students across ages participate in the basketball program.
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Play By Play is in its 20th year, hosting thousands of audience members to its tournament in addition to televising the games. Over 120 future NBA players and nine future WNBA stars, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and Dwight Howard, competed in this tournament.
This is the latest organization to take steps to distance itself from Ye following his remarks. On Tuesday, Adidas announced it is terminating its relationship with the controversial artist. “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech,” it said.
