I Think It’s Time To Stop Making Excuses For Kanye West

Annalisa Castrogiovanni '23

On October 7, 2022, Kanye “Ye” West made some anti-semitic comments on Twitter that were disgusting to readers. West shared on Twitter:

“I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH

PEOPLE The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.” [sic]

These remarks were shared shortly after West was on Fox News with Tucker Carlson to discuss yet another controversy he found himself in during Paris Fashion Week. Kanye West and Candace were photographed at Paris Fashion Week wearing “White Lives Matter” shirts. Many view this to be in reference to the “Black Lives Matter” movement which West and Owens have openly withheld support from.

Kanye’s actions have gotten to the point where major celebrities, such as John Legend and Jamie Lee Curtis, have started to denounce him. Legend tweeted:

“Weird how all these ‘free, independent thinkers’ always land at the same old anti blackness and anti semitism.”

Jamie Lee Curtis also touched on Kanye’s tweets on the TODAY show, stating:

"It's bad enough that fascism is on the rise around the world. But on Twitter, on a portal, to pour that in? As if Jewish people haven't had it hard enough?"

If that wasn’t bad enough Kanye West’s die-hard fans are starting to praise and mimic his actions which is spreading even more anti-semitic hate. Kanye fans were seen in Los Angeles mimicking a Nazi salute standing over a sign that says:

“Kanye is right about the Jews”

This message caused Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón to make a statement:

“We cannot tolerate the #AntiSemitism that was on full display today [Saturday] on an LA Fwy” and, "#WhiteSupremacy is a societal cancer that must be excised. This message is dangerous & cannot be normalized.”

While Twitter and Instagram might have banned Kanye West it is abundantly clear that his messages are still getting spread one way or another. That’s why I think it’s time to stop making excuses for Kanye “Ye” West.

[Editor’s note - since this article was written, West has continued his anti-Semitic remarks, prompting many companies - most notably Adidas - to end their partnerships with him.]