Kanye West Pays for Hurtful Comments

Jalen Flowers, Staff writer

Kanye West has lost nearly everything. West’s brand deals, murals, and reputation have been lost at the expense of his own behavior. Once known as one of the greatest artists of this generation, West was given a masterclass on how to lose all reputability in one month.

Adidas, Gap, Balenciaga, and JPMorgan Chase have all cut ties with West following a slew of antisemitic comments spread by the artist on social media. The artist behind renowned albums like Graduation and Late Registration said Jewish people are manipulating and exploiting other artists.

 West has also been facing backlash regarding his comments on George Floyd’s death in 2020, claiming Floyd was killed by fentanyl and not the officer who had his knee pressed on his neck. The rapper recently released an apology.

“I want to apologize,” West said, “Because God has shown me by what Adidas is doing, by what the media is doing, I know how it feels to have a knee on my neck now.”

West’s downward spiral has been documented on his own social media. His Twitter and Instagram accounts have been temporarily disabled and brought back to use countless times.

Theories have been circulating on what led West to this point, but the artist has not been reserved at any point of his career. Outside of his generational music, West is best known for his public outbursts, such as stating former president George Bush disregards all black people on live TV and interrupting a Taylor Swift MTV award acceptance speech.

The controversy surrounding the 18-time Grammy award winner started more detriment towards West in 2018, when he claimed slavery was a choice during a TMZ live interview. Since 2018, West has endorsed Donald Trump, befriended conservative commentator Candace Owens, ran for president, and divorced his wife of eight years.

West’s fans miss the music and creativity the legendary rapper used to produce. With the loss of nearly all his brand deals due to his recent comments, the deteriorating number of West fans cannot even purchase his clothes and apparel.

While West has seemingly always found a way to bounce back into relevance regardless of the hateful comments he has spewed for the past decade, it’s nearing the end for him. West claims he has lost billions of dollars in one day following the antisemitic beliefs he posted on social media. His counterparts such as rapper 50 Cent, basketball player Jaylen Brown, and former president Donald Trump have condemned his comments.

Boston Celtic and ambassador of West’s school Donda Academy released a statement detailing his decision to drop West.

“I now recognize that there are times when my voice and my position can’t coexist in spaces that don’t correspond with my stance or my values,” Brown said via his Twitter, “I am terminating my association with Kanye West and Donda Sports.”