The net worth of Kanye West - the hugely influential American musician and fashion designer now known as Ye - has dropped by nearly three-quarters in recent weeks, after brands and public figures rushed to distance themselves from him in light of his recent anti-Semitic comments. After years of causing controversy and seemingly going unscathed by it, does this finally mark the downfall of West’s exceptional career?
Image Courtesy of 94.5 The Beat
The controversies leading to the unravelling of West’s relationship with corporations began earlier this month, when he attended his Paris Yeezy SZN 9 fashion show wearing a shirt that read 'WHITE LIVES MATTER'. Given that the term is often used by white supremacists as a negative response to the Black Lives Matter movement, he instantly came under fire. West responded to the ensuing criticism by stating that "everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam" on his Instagram story.
Further backlash soon followed when West stated on a podcast that police brutality victim George Floyd – whose death was at the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement - had in fact died of drug abuse, as former policeman Derek Chauvin’s knee “wasn’t even on [George Floyd’s] neck like that”. In response, Floyd’s family is reportedly planning to file a $250 million lawsuit.
The pivotal moment in West’s series of recent controversies, however, has been his recent anti-Semitic comments. On October 7, West tweeted to his 30+ million Twitter followers: “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.” His mention of “Death con 3” appears to be a reference to the US military heightened alert status DEFCON 3.
Earlier in October, West had also stated in an interview that Jewish people “own the Black voice” and claimed, “I can say anti-Semitic things and Adidas can’t drop me.” This all came after an initial string of anti-Semitic comments including "When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah... who the people know as the race Black really are”, referring to the unfounded belief that Black people are the ‘real’ Jewish race.
West’s tweet was promptly removed by Twitter for violating the platform’s guidelines. Days after, corporations began to respond. Adidas – who produce West’s Yeezy branded products – released a statement on Tuesday in which they announced that they had decided to “terminate the partnership with Ye immediately” because “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech … Ye's recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous”.
Other notable moves from corporations and public figures included Gap announcing that they would remove all of his YEEZY x GAP products from their stores, Madame Tussauds removing their waxwork of West from public view, prominent talent agency CAA choosing to no longer represent him, and his attorney Camille Vasquez – who represented Johnny Depp earlier this year – also severing her ties with him.
Crucially, such actions have led to West falling off Forbes’ billionaire's list. Forbes stated that the situation “caps a stunning, self-induced downfall for one of the brashest and most volatile personalities to have graced Forbes' pages.”
However, West’s career spans much more than brand deals, with his music at its core - and no streaming platforms have yet cut their ties with him. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek did state, however, that Ye’s recent anti-Semitic comments are “just awful”, but because his music itself “doesn’t violate” Spotify’s policy, “it’s up to his label if they want to take action or not.” Universal and Sony have also denounced West's comments.
So, why is it now that these corporations have decided it is time to cut ties with, or at least condemn, West? He is certainly no stranger to making such inflammatory statements. In 2018, for example, he became embroiled in controversy when he called slavery a ‘choice’, stating: “When you hear about slavery for 400 years ... That sounds like a choice.”
He had also already been accused of perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes in 2013, when he stated: “Black people don't have the same level of connections as Jewish people ... We ain't Jewish. We don't get family that got money like that”, referring to Obama’s struggle to pass policies in office.
His support for Donald Trump back was also a major source of controversy back in 2016, and he reaffirmed his support in late 2021, stating, “I’ve still got a red hat on” after his own unsuccessful run for President in 2020. In 2020, West also claimed to be pro-life and stated that “Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil’s work.”
West also came under fire earlier in the year for his attacks on his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and boyfriend of the time, Pete Davidson. West took to Instagram to post numerous threatening posts aimed at Davidson, including an altered New York Times newspaper with a headline reading: “Skete Davidson Dead at Age 28.” Davidson is now reportedly undergoing trauma therapy as a result of West’s harassment.
One of the most obvious reasons for Kanye’s apparent evasion from the consequences of his statements is his mental illness diagnosis, specifically of bipolar disorder. The disorder can cause extreme mood swings, manic episodes, and ‘disturbed or illogical thinking’ - and can at least partially explain West’s erratic behaviour. Fans also cite the emotional impact of the death of West’s mother in 2007. But how far can these reasons excuse him? Many bipolar disorder sufferers and medical experts believe that West’s actions simply cannot be excused by the disorder – as clinical psychologist Carla Manly clearly stated: “There are many people who don't have mental health issues who are racist and bigoted. And there are people with mental health issues who are not racist or bigoted.”
Indeed, as one of the most influential musicians and pop culture figures in history - currently harbouring over 18 million Instagram followers - Kanye West possesses a public platform on a truly massive scale. When he utilises such a platform to perpetuate the racism and antisemitism that is already prevalent in American and global society, the implications are very, very real – regardless of the potential reasons behind his actions.
With this debate naturally arises the issue of ‘cancel culture’ and its legitimacy. Indeed, ‘cancel culture’ itself can be easily criticised for its lack of productivity and encouragement of blatant intolerance, and the common argument of the importance of education over ‘cancellation’ is a very strong one. But one must ask: at what point does attempt to educate someone cease to be purposeful? One can assume that West, at 45 years old, knows better than to make such comments, and the repetition of his actions means that they exceed the point of mere human error. And with anti-Semitic incidents up 34% in 2021 over the previous year in the US, the consequences of such ‘mistakes’ arguably outweigh any reasons for sympathy.
Similarly, discussion around West also brings up the question of separating the art from the artist. A recent trend amongst TikTok users sums this debate up: fans comment on videos about West’s recent controversies and inflammatory comments with “but he made Graduation”, referring to one of West’s most popular albums. Indeed, the incredible popularity of West’s music will inevitably leave many fans torn, as his actions have tainted his well-loved art. This long-held debate will thus rage on: as some call for West’s music to be removed from streaming services altogether, others highlight the dangers of censorship or emphasise the personal importance of his art to his fans.
So, could this really be the downfall of Kanye West’s grand career? His net worth will continue to plummet as he maintains his refusal to apologise or retract his statements, and it does appear that even many of his fans are choosing to distance themselves from him now. Whether or not this is indeed the undoing of his successes, West will remain an incredibly high-profile figure with a notable level of influence, and the most loyal portions of his fanbase are sure to remain. As to whether those who disagree with his actions can still enjoy West’s music, that remains - for now - an issue of personal choice, unless labels and streaming services indeed take the matter into their own hands.
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