Kanye West has long been one of the most divisive individuals in the entertainment world, but his latest statements and messages that were both anti-Semitic and white nationalist have turned off both his supporters and business partners.
Another unfortunate turn for the once-hailed as artistic genius rapper and fashion mogul, whose obstinate contrarianism has led him to start confusing free speech with hate speech.
The latest controversies which erupted during Paris fashion week and after an interview with Fox News add to his reputation as a chaos agent, one that has tarnished his musical and fashion talent.
The 45-year-old West, who in the past has unironically compared himself to Michelangelo, broke out in 2004 with “The College Dropout,” building a masterful music career that saw him imbue rap with soul and electronic elements to create his lush albums.
His mercurial ways drew some critics but for years his celebrity earned him a pass.
At times his comments garnered him praise for his honesty: in 2005, he called out George W. Bush’s handling of Hurricane Katrina, delivering an urgent plea for help during a televised fundraising concert before saying “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.”
But his musings became more loud and divisive in the decades that followed.
West, who has openly discussed his battle with bipolar disease, experienced a mental collapse following the tumultuous release of his album “The Life of Pablo.” As a result, he vanished from the public spotlight.
He reappeared in late 2016 and entered Trump Tower to see the incoming president.
He made waves as a rare celebrity to support the Republican billionaire, whose four years in the White House were mired with repeated accusations of racism and sexism.
West and Trump had a bizarre encounter in Washington in 2018 that included a hug and an on-camera tirade from West.
And during the 2020 election, Ye, West’s longtime moniker, who afterwards legally changed his name to Ye, launched his own unsuccessful campaign for the A
