Donda Academy, school Kanye West founded, still in City of Palms Classic Tournament

Despite Ye, the artist better known as Kanye West, making antisemitic comments, his private school, Donda Academy, will still compete in the City of Palms Classic.

Ye has been dropped by several companies lately, including his talent agency, following the comments. But, as for the City of Palms Classic, Donda Academy players will be present.

The classic will begin at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on Dec. 16. Some people wonder if Donda Academy should still be eligible to participate.

“I can say antisemitic things, and Adidas can’t drop me… now what?” Ye said.

John Naylor, the executive director of the City of Palms Classic Basketball Inc. shed some light on the subject.

“Our contract is with Donda Academy for their basketball team as their coach,” Naylor said. “We don’t have a contract with Kanye West. So our expectation is that when they come, they will put their basketball team on the floor along with their coach, not Kanye West.”

Naylor explained to WINK News they have no plans of removing Donda Academy from the tournament at this time.

“I hate to see, again, basketball, strictly a high school basketball get… I don’t want to say ‘downgraded,’ but gets trashed, by what one individual shoots, shoots his mouth up,” Naylor said. “Again, not that I approve or agree with what he has to say. But that’s his, unfortunately, his right to do so.”

On Wednesday afternoon, WINK News asked Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz his opinion on the situation and whether he thinks Donda Academy should be removed from the tournament.

“I think we need to be busy and focused on positive things. I think to get involved in negative stuff just only exasperates it,” Rabbi Minkowicz said. “I think people need to move on with their life in a positive way and try to do positive things, say positive things, think positive things, do positive things. I wouldn’t get involved in anything negative. So you have my answer, I think.”

WINK News asked Naylor if Ye would be invited to come if he wanted to attend the tournament, and he said he would have to buy a ticket like anyone else. But he said if they do hear he’s coming, a decision will have to be made.