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WARNING: This story contains offensive language.
Just days after rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, filled his social media, particularly on X, with a barrage of antisemitic, misogynistic, and racist remarks, his account appears to have been deactivated. This incident highlights a continuing pattern of controversial behavior from West, whose public persona has sharply declined in recent years due to his several inflammatory statements.
West’s final messages prior to the account’s disappearance included critiques of fellow musicians Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar during the Super Bowl event, where he expressed discontent over Swift’s apparent support for Lamar. He alleged that “Kendrick is being used by these white people and Jews and so am I,” which further fueled the controversies surrounding him. West also urged Kendrick Lamar to leverage his platform for the release of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently imprisoned awaiting trial on serious charges, including sexual offense allegations.
As tensions escalated, Elon Musk, the owner of X, unfollowed West and designated his account as “NSFW” (not safe for work) due to the nature of his posts. Musk responded to user complaints about West’s content by stating, “Given what he has posted, his account is now classified as NSFW. You should not be seeing that anymore.” Shortly thereafter, West made a farewell post, acknowledging that he would be logging out, which marked the end of his turbulent activity on the platform.
Presently, visiting West’s former account reveals a message indicating that the account “does not exist,” with none of his previous content accessible to the public. Inquiries made to X regarding the specifics of West’s account removal—whether it was initiated by him or was a ban—remain unanswered. X’s help center notes that account holders can deactivate their profiles at their discretion, which results in their pages becoming unavailable.
History of Controversy
This isn’t the first time West has faced repercussions for his statements. He previously found himself locked out of Twitter (now X) and Instagram for antisemitic comments made in 2022, although his account was reactivated in 2023. Over the years, he has made a series of offensive remarks, including repeated praise of Adolf Hitler and claims that slavery was a choice. His contentious clothing choices, like the “White Lives Matter” T-shirt during Paris Fashion Week, have also drawn widespread backlash, alongside threats directed at Jewish communities.
Following these events, brands like Balenciaga severed ties with him, and he lost significant business partnerships that contributed to his billion-dollar status, most notably with Adidas. Late last year, while promoting his album Vultures, he made additional antisemitic comments during a Las Vegas rant, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and comparisons between himself, Jesus Christ, and Hitler.
WATCH | Adidas cuts ties with Ye:
Adidas has cut ties with Kanye West over antisemitic comments.
West’s actions remained in the news recently, not just for his social media outbursts but also for his appearance at the Grammys with wife Bianca Censori, who elicited attention with her sheer dress. Moreover, he revealed in an interview that he had been diagnosed with autism, suggesting that it influenced his past behavior.
From the previous Thursday through the weekend, West’s posts took a dark turn, displaying overt antisemitic rhetoric. In glaring all-caps messages, he boldly stated, “I’m racist” and “I love Hitler. Now what, bitches,” while asserting he would not apologize for his comments. Such outbursts prompted outrage from various organizations.
Responses to Antisemitic Rhetoric
The American Jewish Committee voiced strong condemnation of West’s behavior, stating that he continues to misuse his substantial platform to propagate anti-Jewish hatred. They cautioned about the potential hazardous effect his words could have on his followers and noted the alarming rise of antisemitism globally. The AJC remarked, “Hate, left unchecked, only multiplies,” emphasizing the need for accountability in media discourse.
Notable figures, including actor David Schwimmer, have called for West’s permanent suspension from X. Schwimmer highlighted the scale of West’s influence, pointing out that his followers outnumber the entire Jewish population, thereby amplifying the potential harm of his dangerous rhetoric. In a response to discussions about West’s behavior on X, Musk acknowledged the issue but suggested that personal responsibility should be emphasized.
Source
www.cbc.ca