*Ye pictured in October 2022 RACHPOOT/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES
Ye, the prominent artist, record producer, and fashion icon formerly known as Kanye West, has drawn attention from the media for provocative antisemitic and fascistic remarks since early October 2022. During an interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson on October 6, Ye made derogatory remarks about Jews and Jewish identity.
45 year old Kanye West has been in the public eye for the last 3 months. Ye appeared on Fox News with Tucker Carlson on October 6 after his decision to wear a "White Lives Matter" shirt to Paris Fashion Week drew widespread attention.
Ye made a series of aggressive and fascistic claims about Jewish people and Jewish identity during the interview. Ye claimed that Jews are actually Black people, claiming that when he refers to Jews, he means "the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race Black really are," and that Planned Parenthood was the result of a collaboration between the KKK and Margaret Sanger "to control the Jew (i.e. Black) population."
He also stated that he cannot be described as antisemitic because, as a Black person, he is a Jew. Ye also told Carlson that he believed Jared Kushner only arranged peace treaties between Israel and Arab nations "to make money," and that he wished his children had learned about Hanukkah rather than "complicated Kwanzaa," because Hanukkah would at least "come with some financial engineering."
The next day, Ye posted screenshots of text messages on Instagram insinuating that Jews are using their alleged power over his peers in the music industry to intimidate him, and he asserted defiantly that "no one can threaten or influence me." The post was subsequently deleted.
Ye also said that Jewish people “toyed with” him, and that they “tried to black ball anyone who opposes” their “agenda.” This tweet, in which Ye ominously referred to going ‘death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” raising the prospect of violence, has been taken down by Twitter.
Ye repeatedly blamed "Jewish media" and "Jewish Zionists" for numerous alleged wrongdoings during an interview on Revolt TV's "Drink Champs" series that was posted and then removed on October 16, claiming that "Jewish people have owned the Black voice" and that "the Jewish community, especially in the music industry...they'll take us and milk us till we die." Mentioning Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, he also remarked that he has been "# MeToo-ing the Jewish culture. I'm saying y'all gotta stand up and admit to what you been doing."
During an October 17 interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, Ye doubled down on his antisemitism, ridiculing the so-called "Jewish underground media mafia" and claiming that "every celebrity has Jewish people in their contract." He also alleged that his life was endangered because of his political views by his Jewish managers, lawyer, and accountant. Ye mentioned that "we are Semite, we Jew, so I can't be antisemitic" on both "Drink Champs" and "Cuomo."
Ye's recent remarks were mentioned by Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad. Over the weekend, extremist Black Hebrew Israelite religious groups praised Ye for assisting in the spread of their teachings. Other extremist organizations, such as White Lives Matter and the Goyim Defense League, have used Ye's remarks to advance their own ideologies and inspire new propaganda efforts.
Ye spoke with paparazzi and expressed remorse for insinuating George Floyd died from fentanyl rather than Floyd suffocating from a police officer putting a knee on his neck. When confronted by the paparazzi about his antisemitic remarks, West stated that he didn't realize what he was saying was considered antisemitic, but after a mediation with Adidas, which has officially severed ties with the rapper, he came to some realizations and became "humbled." "When I see that video as a Black person, it hurts my feelings," he said in his convoluted discussion, where he appeared to be saying things and walking them back at the same time.
"And I know that police do attack, and that America is generally racist," he told paparazzi. "And I understand that when we got to say Black Lives Matter, the concept made us feel good as a people, right?"
"So when I questioned George Floyd's death, it hurt my people," he continued. "I'd like to apologize. Because God has shown me through what Adidas and the media are doing, I now know what it's like to have a knee on my neck.
“So thank you God for humbling me and letting me know how it really felt. Because how could the richest Black men ever be humbled other than to be made to not be a billionaire in front of everyone off of one comment.”
It is very unknown what is next for Kanye West, especially after his recent bigoted crescendo on the show InfoWars. Kanye has been locked out of his Twitter and Instagram accounts indefinitely, and has been dropped by virtually all of his brands and allies. There have been possible discussions for him to do an interview with Twitch Streamer AdinRoss, though it is not known when that will happen. The world finally turns its back on a man who has gone too far with his influence, and clearly has shown to need help.