West's Donda Academy Abruptly Shuts Down

Kanye West's educational venture appears to have collapsed alongside his business ventures amid fallout from his antisemitic rants. The Times of London reports that the principal of Donda Academy told parents in an email Wednesday that "at the discretion of our Founder, Donda Academy will close for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year effective immediately." Jason Angell added: "THERE IS NO SCHOOL TOMORROW." The rapper founded the Christian K-12 school last year in Simi Valley, California, around 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Parents, who are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, are charged $15,000 per year. The school's exact location is a secret and there are reportedly only around 100 students.

Angell told parents the academy plans to "begin afresh in September of 2023" and its leadership team "will be working diligently to assist all families during this transition." On Wednesday, the organizers of two boys' basketball tournaments rescinded invitations for the Donda Academy team to play in national showcases, the New York Times reports. West had used "star power—and promises of jetting players around the country for high-profile games—to lure elite talent" to the school, per the Times. Earlier this month, educational consultant Tamar Andrews, who holds positions at two prominent Jewish educational institutions, resigned from the academy, per the Hollywood Reporter. (Execs at shoemaker Skechers say West was escorted out of the building after he turned up unannounced Wednesday.)