- Mark Savage
- BBC music correspondent
The controversy started after West wore the “White Lives Matter” shirt at Paris Fashion Week
Twitter and Instagram banned Kanye West from accessing his accounts on the two sites after posting anti-Semitic messages.
The star’s Instagram account was suspended over the weekend after he accused rapper Diddy of being “controlled by Jews”.
The letter played a role in an extended anti-Semitic conspiracy theory.
West responded to his account’s suspension by returning to Twitter, saying it would go “to the third death knell for Jews” – a reference to the US armed forces’ defensive readiness – earning him a second takedown.
Both platforms removed West’s posts, saying the star had “violated policies related to hate speech.”
Fashion show controversy
The incident came after West was criticized for wearing a T-shirt that read “white lives matter” during Paris Fashion Week.
The logo also appeared during his YZY fashion show, when it was shown by Sella Marley, daughter of Lauren Hill and granddaughter of Bob Marley.
The Anti-Defamation League called the phrase “hate speech” and attributed it to white supremacists who began using it in 2015 in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Among them was Didi, who posted a video on Instagram saying he was “not shaken” by the slogan.
“All lives matter – but the motto Black Lives Matter, don’t play with it. Don’t wear the shirt. Don’t buy the shirt. Don’t play with the shirt. It’s no joke.”
West then posted what appeared to be a text exchange with Diddy on his Instagram account, in which he told the rapper, “I didn’t like our conversation. I’m selling these T-shirts. Nobody can get in between me and my money.”
When Didi again asked him to stop, West replied, “I will use you as an example to show the Jews who have asked you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me.”
The post appears to be referring to the anti-Semitic theory that “a secret gang of Jews plots to control the world’s media, governments and banks.”
photo released, Getty Images
West was in Paris for a show where he changed the name of his fashion line
After deactivating his Instagram account, West took to Twitter, posting a picture of himself with Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg.
“Look at this, Mark. How did you kick me off Instagram?” he said.
He continued with a message: “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I will go to the third level of death on Jews. The funny thing is that I actually can’t be an anti-Semite because blacks are actually Jews too.”
He added, “You guys have played with me and tried to ostracize anyone who opposes your agenda.”
The tweet has since been removed, and West’s account has been closed.
West, who changed his name to (Ye), was diagnosed with bipolar disorder several years ago and has spoken publicly about his mental health challenges.
Kanye has a long history of erratic behavior and making controversial statements, but his recent outbursts threaten to damage his business interests.
Adidas said it was reviewing its partnership with the star after his appearance at Paris Fashion Week, and after an interview in which he expressed dissatisfaction with the way some of the latest Adidas shoes have been produced.
“After repeated efforts to resolve the issue in secret, we have taken the decision to put the partnership under review,” the clothing company said in a statement.
“We will continue to be involved in managing the current product during this period,” she added.
The shirt was “funny”
Last week, West gave a lengthy interview to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, covering everything from his religion and his relationship with the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh, to his anti-abortion stance and political aspirations.
Asked about the White Lives Matter T-shirt, he told Carlson it was “funny” and “the obvious thing to do”.
“The answer to why I write White Lives Matter on a T-shirt is that it really is,” he said.
When Carlson asked why the shirt sparked such a backlash, West said it was because he wasn’t behaving in a way that the media would approve of.
“Because the same people who stripped us of our identity and categorized us on the basis of color told us what it means to be black,” West said.