Kanye West, now known as Ye, has once again sparked widespread outrage with a series of antisemitic and offensive remarks made on his X account in early February. This latest tirade, which included declaring “I’m a Nazi” and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Jewish people, is not an isolated incident but rather a continuation of a disturbing pattern of hate speech. This behavior has not only drawn condemnation but also raised critical questions about the impact of such rhetoric and the responsibility of public figures.
Earlier in the same week as his online outburst, West had already attracted attention for a controversial appearance at the Grammy Awards alongside his wife, Bianca Censori. However, these headline-grabbing antics were quickly overshadowed by the resurgence of his antisemitic pronouncements. His history of hate speech has led to significant repercussions, including the loss of lucrative business partnerships and widespread isolation from the entertainment industry. Yet, despite facing these consequences, Ye has consistently doubled down, using his platform to amplify hateful ideologies.
In his recent online barrage, Ye’s statements went beyond just antisemitism, also targeting individuals with disabilities and other racial groups. This broad spectrum of offensive language further solidifies a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric that demands serious attention. Concurrently, a Super Bowl advertisement connected to Ye aired in select markets, directing viewers to his online store. This store was found to be selling a $20 T-shirt featuring a black swastika, a symbol unequivocally associated with hate and genocide. By February 1st, the online store was no longer accessible, displaying a message indicating its unavailability.
Image: Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s controversial appearance at the Grammy Awards preceding renewed antisemitic outbursts.
The continuous stream of antisemitic remarks from Ye has triggered widespread denouncement. His actions have resulted in the termination of substantial business agreements, most notably his multi-billion-dollar arrangement with Adidas. Moreover, he has become increasingly marginalized within the music and entertainment sectors. Despite the significant backlash and financial implications, Ye has remained defiant, choosing to amplify his hateful messaging.
A History of Antisemitic Tropes
Ye’s recent statements are part of a longer and deeply troubling history. He has repeatedly used social media to disseminate antisemitic tropes, engaged in antisemitic conspiracy theories during interviews, and even seemingly threatened violence against Jewish people. His actions extend beyond online platforms; he has been seen with entourages of known antisemites and has utilized podcasts to further spread hateful ideologies.
A particularly disturbing incident occurred during an interview on the InfoWars talk show with Alex Jones, a figure known for promoting far-right conspiracy theories. In this interview, alongside white supremacist Nick Fuentes, West advocated for people to “stop dissing the Nazis” and bizarrely praised Adolf Hitler. Jones himself, despite his own history of harmful rhetoric, attempted to push back against West’s extreme praise, while still making references to the antisemitic trope of a “Jewish mafia.”
Image: Kanye West’s appearance on Infowars with Alex Jones, a platform known for spreading conspiracy theories, where he made deeply offensive remarks.
Further amplifying his antisemitism, Ye posted an image on Twitter depicting a swastika intertwined with a Star of David. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) publicly condemned this blatant display of Jew-hatred. Tragically, West’s rhetoric is not confined to the digital realm. His antisemitic statements have had tangible, real-world consequences, contributing to an environment where antisemitic behavior is increasingly normalized, infiltrating mainstream discourse from celebrities to politicians.
While antisemitism manifests across various segments of society, including white supremacists, Black supremacists, and religious extremists, Ye’s hateful rhetoric appears to encompass a wide range of antisemitic tropes. With a massive social media following exceeding 31 million, his pronouncements are not only widespread but also increasingly extreme and dangerous. While Ye has publicly acknowledged his struggles with bipolar disorder, it is crucial to state unequivocally that mental illness cannot excuse antisemitism.
AJC CEO Ted Deutch emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Although some have tried, there is no rationale, no explaining away Kanye West’s rants on social media for anything else than what they are: vicious antisemitic statements that pose a clear and present danger to every Jewish person.”
Five Examples of Kanye West’s Antisemitic Statements and Their Connection to Antisemitic Tropes
To understand the depth and nature of Ye’s antisemitism, it’s important to examine specific examples of his statements and how they align with established antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories.
- “I prefer my kids knew Hannukah from Kwanzaa. At least it will come with some financial engineering.”
During an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News, Ye expressed a preference for his children to learn about Hanukkah over Kwanzaa because the Jewish holiday would supposedly teach them about “financial engineering.” This statement, while edited out of the broadcast, directly plays into the antisemitic trope of greed. This trope is a cornerstone of antisemitic rhetoric, fueling stereotypes of Jewish people as being obsessed with money, materialistic, and manipulative in financial matters, aiming to control global finances for personal gain.
- “I just think that’s what they’re about, is making money,” West said in an apparent reference to Jared Kushner and his Jewish family.
In the same interview, Fox News did not omit Ye’s accusation that Jared Kushner, who is Jewish, brokered the Abraham Accords solely for financial profit. This accusation is another clear example of the antisemitic trope of greed, suggesting that Jewish individuals, even in positions of power and influence, are primarily motivated by financial gain.
- “Planned Parenthood was made by Margaret Sanger, a known eugenics, with the KKK to control the Jew population. When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race Black really are. This is who our people are.”
Here, Ye promotes the false and antisemitic conspiracy theory that Planned Parenthood was established as part of a eugenics-driven plot, linked to the KKK, to control the “Jew population.” He then conflates this with Black supremacist ideology, falsely claiming that Black people are the “real Jews” and that “white” Jews are imposters. This statement echoes the antisemitic trope prevalent among Black supremacists who deny the legitimacy of Jewish identity, claiming that Black people are the true Israelites and Jews are imposters who have stolen their heritage. This dangerous conspiracy theory has been linked to violent antisemitic attacks.
- “This ain’t a game. Imma use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me. I told you this is war. Now gone get you some business.”
This statement was directed at Sean “Diddy” Combs after Combs challenged Ye about his “White Lives Matter” shirt. Ye accused Diddy of being controlled by Jewish people, perpetuating the antisemitic trope of Jewish control. This trope, a central element of antisemitic conspiracy theories, posits that Jewish people secretly control media, banks, and governments, acting as puppet masters who manipulate world events. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, removed this post and temporarily restricted Ye’s account due to its hateful content.
Image: Rap moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs and Kanye West, illustrating the context of West’s antisemitic accusations against Combs.
- “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.”
Following restrictions on his Instagram account, Ye turned to Twitter, where he posted this alarming threat. He declared he would go “death con 3 on Jewish people,” a confused reference to the military term DEFCON, indicating a state of heightened readiness for war. He also bizarrely claimed he couldn’t be antisemitic because Black people are “also Jew,” again referencing the Black supremacist “real Jews” trope. Twitter removed the post and locked Ye’s account for violating its hateful conduct policies.
Holly Huffnagle, AJC’s U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism, highlights the role of social media algorithms in amplifying hate speech. “Social media companies know their algorithms promote engagement,” she stated. “And hate, conspiracies, and lies foster the most engagement, which is why their hate speech policies are in place.” These policies are crucial as antisemitism continues to rise globally. In the U.S., over half of religious bias crimes target Jewish people. AJC’s research indicates that a significant portion of American Jews have personally experienced or know someone who has experienced antisemitism.
Huffnagle underscores the importance of accountability: “Hatred and bigotry must not be excused. We must keep people accountable, especially those whose words impact millions of people. Using these platforms to share his plans ‘to go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE’ spreads antisemitic hate speech at an immeasurably amplified level.”
The Reinstatement and Continued Controversies on Social Media
Following his initial ban from Twitter (now X) in late 2022, Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform led to the reinstatement of Ye’s account. Subsequently, Ye used the platform to announce his 2024 presidential campaign after a controversial dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and former President Donald Trump. This event further amplified concerns about the normalization of antisemitism and hate speech.
Ye and Fuentes then embarked on a series of appearances on conspiracy-focused talk shows, including Alex Jones’s InfoWars, where Ye’s antisemitism reached new extremes. He infamously stated, “Every human being has value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler,” and denied the Holocaust. During these appearances, he often employed bizarre props and theatrical behavior to further disseminate his hateful messages.
Following these extreme outbursts, including tweeting a swastika intertwined with the Star of David, Ye was once again banned from Twitter in December 2022. However, after an eight-month suspension, his account was inexplicably reinstated. Despite this reinstatement and a recent return to performing, Ye has remained largely silent on social media since.
Adidas CEO’s Controversial Comments on Kanye West’s Antisemitism
Nearly a year after Ye’s initial antisemitic tirade, Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden made comments that appeared to downplay the severity of Ye’s antisemitic remarks, reigniting controversy surrounding the issue. In a podcast interview, Gulden discussed Adidas’s terminated partnership with Ye and the Yeezy brand.
Gulden stated that Ye “did some statements, which wasn’t that good and that caused Adi to break the contract and withdraw the product.” He added, “Very unfortunate because I don’t think he meant what he said and I don’t think he’s a bad person — it just came across that way.” These comments were widely criticized for minimizing the harm caused by antisemitic hate speech.
While Gulden described the breakup with Ye as “very sad” and acknowledged the financial loss for Adidas, his remarks about Ye’s intent were seen as dismissive of the real-world impact of antisemitism. Following Adidas’s decision to sever ties with Ye, AJC Berlin Director Dr. Remko Leemhuis urged Adidas to demonstrate a commitment to combating antisemitism by adopting the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. AJC CEO Ted Deutch also spoke with Gulden, emphasizing that Ye’s antisemitic statements have tangible and harmful consequences for Jewish communities, consequences that should not be minimized or dismissed.
Conclusion
Kanye West’s repeated antisemitic outbursts are not merely the words of a controversial celebrity; they are dangerous expressions of hate that contribute to a climate of fear and prejudice for Jewish people worldwide. Understanding the historical context of these tropes and the real-world consequences of such rhetoric is crucial in combating antisemitism and holding public figures accountable for the impact of their words. It is imperative for individuals, institutions, and social media platforms to actively challenge antisemitism in all its forms and to ensure that hate speech is not normalized or excused.
