Content Warning: this article contains discussion of antisemitism and racism.
Recently, Ye (formerly Kanye West) has been in the news—again. When I originally decided to write this article, he had been receiving heat for wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt, but apparently that wasn’t enough for Ye, and now he has started tweeting anti-Semitism as well. One excerpt from his recently-locked Twitter account reads, “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.” Additionally, Ye has a history of selling Confederate flags, as well as allegations of abuse.
Some people claim that Ye is simply “reclaiming” these symbols of hate, but they’re mistaken in believing that. He isn’t “reclaiming” them, because they have always belonged to the same group: racists. The Anti-Defamation League describes White Lives Matter as “a white supremacist phrase that originated in early 2015 as a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement.” When Ye wore the shirt that sported the “White Lives Matter” slogan, he was not reclaiming the words, but rather enforcing the beliefs and ideology behind the words and displaying his acceptance.
It seems that Kanye might just love painting himself in a negative light, because on top of all of these offenses, he has also insinuated that George Floyd died of a Fentanyl overdose. This is entirely untrue of course; George Floyd was murdered by disgraced police officer Derek Chauvin. Again, when Ye, a very influential figure, supports these ideas, he gives the people who excuse police brutality a platform and sense of legitimacy.
These symbols and ideals are dangerous, and Ye’s support shows that they are acceptable. It encourages neo-Nazis to protest in his names with signs with phrases like “Kanye is right about the Jews.” Kanye is an influential figure, so when he supports people who have these racist and anti-Semitic ideas, justification for the horrible things said is easier.
Whether Kanye is just doing all of this for attention, being influenced by people around him, or truly believes the stuff he’s spouting doesn’t have significance, it’s more dangerous than it seems. Ye has an influence on people, especially young people, and when he tells them that racism and anti-Semitism are what he believes in, those people may just start to think similarly. He also gives legitimacy to those who already hold such beliefs, like neo-Nazis, the KKK, and the Proud Boys. If Kanye continues what he is doing, it will have a dangerous effect on not only his reputation, but the people who listen to and are influenced by him.