I don’t know how long I can keep defending Kanye West.
After the messy divorce between West and Kim Kardashian, the musician has spiraled into mental turmoil. Turning to social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter to express his discomfort, West floods his profiles with unsettling quotes and imagery. While some of his social media content can be written off as “hot takes,” some of it threatened Kim Kardashian and her (at the time) boyfriend Pete Davidson. Most recently, his Internet tantrums sparked online controversy after several t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “White Lives Matter” hit the runway at his Yeezy Season nine show during Paris Fashion Week.
Furthermore, on the show Drink, Champs West ranted about “the Jewish people,” stating that he is also a Jew “as the blood of Christ.” He then said the Jewish people control all facets of media and entertainment and say they have “owned the Black voice”—a trope frequently espoused by neo-Nazis.
Kanye used to be one of the nice guys of hip hop. A representation of the “rags to riches” story, West served as a role model for many contemporary musicians and artists. Kanye is in desperate need of help, rehabilitation, and maybe putting his phone on airplane mode. His online outbursts have led to the destruction of his previous and following legacy.
At the end of the day, I have one thing to say: I feel bad for this guy’s publicist.