Tamar Andrews, who worked with Donda Academy since July and officially resigned earlier this month, is the director of early childhood education at both Temple Isaiah and American Jewish University, per websites for both institutions. Allison Samek, president of Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles, told THR in a statement: “Dr. Andrews immediately resigned from Donda Academy following Ye West’s tweet. Her last day was October 11, 2022, as she felt she could no longer support the organization.”
West has been widely condemned in recent days for his repeated antisemitic comments. Andrews has yet to respond to THR’s multiple requests for comment, and AJU declined to share a statement.
The rapper quietly opened Donda Academy, located in Simi Valley, in November 2021. Tuition hovers at $15,000 annually, and to attend, students (which currently total less than 100) are required to sign an NDA, and they are often seen wearing Adidas Yeezy Foam RNR shoes as part of their uniform. The head of the school is Pepperdine University graduate student Brianne Campbell (who doubles as choir director for Ye’s Sunday Service group).
West’s antisemitic statements — on social media and in interviews — have caused CAA, Balenciaga, Vogue and JP Morgan Chase to say they will no longer work with the star. Adidas, the company West has worked with since 2013 to manufacture and distribute items from his Yeezy clothing and footwear line, has yet to make a statement about the future of their relationship with the musician and designer other than to say the business is “under review.” Morningstar analyst David Swartz told The Washington Post that West’s line generates roughly $2 billion for the German company every year.
However, several Hollywood heavyweights (including Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and UTA chief Jeremy Zimmer) have elected to speak out against the artist, particularly after an anti-Semitic banner was hung condoning his hate speech with statements like “Kanye is right about the Jews” over the Los Angeles 405 freeway this past weekend. On Monday, Oct. 24, West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian released a statement condemning antisemitism and hate speech.
“We condemn this weekend’s anti-Semitic incidents. Jewish Angelenos should always feel safe,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti posted on Twitter in response to the incident.
“This is an outrageous effort to fan the flames of antisemitism gripping the nation. This group, known for espousing antisemitism and white supremacist ideology, is now leveraging Ye’s antisemitism and is proof that hate breeds more hate,” tweeted Jeffrey Abrams, ADL of Los Angeles Regional Director.
