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Kanye West
Rapper; Fashion Designer; Antisemitism and Extremism
Billionaire entertainer who made repeated antisemitic statements; praised Hitler; lost partnerships worth $1.5 billion; ran disruptive 2020 presidential campaign
Overview
Kanye Omari West (legally changed name to "Ye" in 2021) is an American rapper; producer; and fashion designer who became one of the most commercially successful musicians in history before a series of increasingly erratic and hateful public statements cost him virtually all of his business partnerships. In October 2022; West posted "I'm going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE" on social media; triggering widespread condemnation. In a December 2022 interview with Alex Jones; West stated "I like Hitler" and "I love Nazis"; praised aspects of Nazi Germany; and denied the Holocaust. These statements led Adidas to terminate their Yeezy partnership (worth $1.5 billion to West); Balenciaga; Gap; and other companies severed ties. West's net worth fell from an estimated $6.6 billion to approximately $400 million almost overnight. West also ran for president in 2020 in a campaign that Republican operatives helped organize; apparently designed to siphon Black votes from Joe Biden. West had previously visited the White House and embraced Donald Trump; wearing a MAGA hat in the Oval Office. He has publicly discussed bipolar disorder but his antisemitic statements and association with white nationalists (including Nick Fuentes; whom he brought to dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November 2022) have been condemned by civil rights organizations as dangerous regardless of any mental health factors.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Posted "I'm going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE" on social media in October 2022; triggering removal from multiple platforms
Stated "I like Hitler" and "I love Nazis" in December 2022 interview with Alex Jones; praised aspects of Nazi Germany and denied the Holocaust
Lost $1.5+ billion in business partnerships after antisemitic statements; Adidas; Balenciaga; Gap; Foot Locker; and others terminated relationships
Brought white nationalist Nick Fuentes to dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November 2022; forcing Trump to distance himself
Ran for president in 2020 in a campaign assisted by Republican operatives; appeared to be designed to siphon Black votes from Joe Biden in key swing states
Publicly embraced Donald Trump in 2018 Oval Office meeting while wearing MAGA hat; stated slavery "sounds like a choice"
Multiple former employees have described abusive working conditions; racial harassment; and showing explicit content in workplace settings at Yeezy and affiliated companies
Related Investigations (1)
Known Associates & Connections
Donald Trump
Met in Oval Office in 2018; hosted at Mar-a-Lago in November 2022 alongside Nick Fuentes
Nick Fuentes
White nationalist brought by West to dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- June 8, 1977
- Birthplace
- Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Also Known As
- Ye
Education
- •American Academy of Art (dropped out)
- •Chicago State University (dropped out)
Key Timeline
June 8, 1977
Born in Atlanta, Georgia
2004
Debut album "The College Dropout" launches career as major hip-hop artist
October 2018
Meets with Donald Trump in the Oval Office wearing MAGA hat
July 2020
Announces presidential campaign; Republican operatives help gather ballot signatures
October 2021
Legally changes name to "Ye"
October 8, 2022
Posts antisemitic threat on social media; accounts restricted on Twitter and Instagram
October 25, 2022
Adidas terminates Yeezy partnership worth $1.5 billion
November 24, 2022
Brings white nationalist Nick Fuentes to dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago
December 1, 2022
States "I like Hitler" and praises Nazis on Alex Jones's Infowars broadcast