Instagram and Twitter have temporarily blocked Kanye West’s accounts due to antisemitic sentiments and for violating the platform’s rules. Instagram also deleted some posts made by the rapper and entrepreneur, and he took to Twitter to question the development and even posted a photo he took with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“Look at this Mark,” Kanye, who is now legally known as Ye tweeted. “How you went kick me off Instagram (sic).”
The music artiste’s recent controversy started after he and his models wore T-shirts inscribed with “White Lives Matter” on them at his YZY fashion show in Paris. Several rappers such as Diddy and Meek Mill condemned him for sporting the shirt, while several fashion moguls at the event staged a walkout. Musicians across the country have also lambasted him for the sentiments, but he remains stuck to his guns that he is free to air his views.
When Ye and Diddy took their exchange to a higher level on social media, Instagram alleged that Ye used language that is deemed antisemitic and removed some of his posts. The American Jewish Committee also waded into the matter to condemn the musician for making statements that put Jewish in a bad light.
“Kanye West has had a streak of rants this week that is remarkable even by his standards,” the Jewish Committee stated. “Ye needs to see that words matter, especially a vicious antisemitic comment that recently surfaced on social media. If he wants to have any credibility as a commentator on social issues, let alone as a musician, maybe he can start by figuring out how to make a point without fomenting hatred of Jews.”
The Committee also accused Kanye of making “incoherent rants laden with racist and antisemitic undertones” as well as “anti-Jewish posts shared to his 18 million followers on Instagram.” After being restricted on Instagram for violating the platform’s rules, Kanye took to Twitter to launch a tirade against Jews.
“I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up, I’m going Death Con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” Kanye tweeted. “The funny thing is: I actually can’t be Anti-Semitic because black people are actually Jews also. You guys have toyed with me and tried to blackball anyone who opposes your agenda.”
Although Elon Musk, who is in the process of acquiring Twitter, had welcomed Kanye (who last used Twitter two years ago) with a “Welcome back to Twitter, my friend!”, the microblogging social media platform went on to prohibit the artiste’s tweet for violating its policies. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed that Kanye’s account was “locked due to a violation of Twitter’s policies.”
Sportswear manufacturer, Adidas, has also put its partnership with Kanye “under review” in view of his antisemitic and White Lives Matter agendas.