Kanye West’s Shocking Move Leaves Fans Outraged
New York (CNN) — Controversial rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, is once again at the center of a major backlash after listing T-shirts featuring swastikas for sale on his Yeezy website. This move follows a week filled with hate speech on his X account, where he posted antisemitic, homophobic, and misogynistic remarks to his 32 million followers.
West’s website received fresh attention on Sunday when he aired a self-made commercial during the Super Bowl. The ad, which showed him recording a 30-second promotional video in a dentist’s office using an iPhone, urged viewers to visit his Yeezy site. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the ad was not broadcast nationwide on Fox but was instead shown in select local markets. Fox, which does not control all ads on its affiliates, has not yet responded to CNN’s request for comment.
Shopify Silent on T-Shirt Sales
Shopify, the e-commerce platform processing orders for West’s $20 swastika T-shirts, has not issued any statements regarding the controversy. The sale of such merchandise has drawn widespread condemnation from advocacy groups, celebrities, and concerned individuals across social media.
Backlash from Anti-Hate Organizations
For several days, West has been using his X account to share extreme views, prompting widespread calls for action from Jewish organizations, anti-hate groups, and public figures. Some of his posts have been restricted by X, with warnings stating:
“This post may violate X’s rules against hateful conduct. It can’t be replied to, shared, or liked.”
Despite these restrictions, critics argue that X has not done enough to curb West’s influence. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) strongly condemned his actions, releasing a statement on Monday:
“The swastika is the symbol adopted by Hitler as the primary emblem of the Nazis. It galvanized his followers in the 20th century and continues to threaten and instill fear in those targeted by antisemitism and white supremacy. There’s no excuse for this kind of behavior.”
Elon Musk Responds as West Deactivates His X Account
On Sunday evening, West announced he was logging out of X, posting:
“I’m logging out of Twitter. I appreciate Elon for allowing me to vent. It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board.”
This decision came after increased scrutiny of his posts, including one containing explicit content. Responding to a user complaint about West sharing “literal porn,” X owner Elon Musk replied:
“Given what he has posted, his account is now classified as NSFW. You should not be seeing that anymore.”
(NSFW stands for “Not Safe for Work.”)
West’s X account has a history of suspensions, including a ban in 2022 for “incitement to violence.” Musk reinstated the account in July 2023.
West Claims Autism Diagnosis, Denies Bipolar Disorder
Last week, West claimed during a podcast interview that he was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and instead has autism. He stated that this new diagnosis has helped him better understand himself, though he did not provide medical documentation to support his claim.
Business Fallout from Controversial Remarks
West’s past inflammatory comments have led to the collapse of several major business partnerships. In 2022, Adidas and Gap severed ties with him following antisemitic remarks. Additionally, multiple former associates have alleged that West has long been fascinated by Adolf Hitler, with some claiming he once wanted to name an album after the Nazi leader.
Widespread Condemnation and Uncertain Future
As backlash grows, it remains unclear whether West’s controversial merchandise will remain available for purchase. Advocacy groups continue to pressure e-commerce platforms and social media companies to take stronger action against his hate speech and monetization of Nazi symbols.
With his latest controversy, Kanye West once again finds himself isolated from major brands, facing public outrage, and losing credibility with both fans and former business partners. Whether this marks another temporary setback or a lasting impact on his career remains to be seen.
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