The rapper previously known as Kanye West, who is now known as Ye, has ignited fresh controversy with a series of antisemitic tweets on X (formerly Twitter), with calls for him to be banned from the site.
The tweets, posted from Thursday evening until Friday afternoon, included remarks branding slavery as “a choice” and a number of antisemitic comments. The Campaign Against Antisemitism has denounced Ye’s recent social media posts, with a representative saying: “Once again, Ye has embarked on an antisemitic rampage online. It could not be clearer that he is an unrepentant, proud antisemite.”
The representative highlighted the posts’ broad audience reach, saying “More people have looked at these posts than there are Jews on the planet.”
The incident is part of a trend of provocative behavior from the 47-year-old artist. In 2022, Adidas ended its collaboration with Ye after he made antisemitic comments and praised Nazi figurehead Adolf Hitler in a conversation with US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The firm later donated over 150 million dollars (£117 million) to anti-hate organizations.
Ye Reveals Autism Diagnosis Amidst Controversy
In 2023, Ye attempted to make amends by posting an apology in Hebrew on Instagram, stating: “I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions.
It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused.” However, the sincerity of this apology has been questioned following his recent actions.
In a new development, Ye revealed his autism diagnosis during an appearance on The Download podcast, hosted by Justin Laboy. The revelation came after his wife, Australian model Bianca Censori, encouraged him to seek a reassessment of his previous bipolar disorder diagnosis.
On the podcast, Ye explained: “I went to this doctor, my wife took me to do that because she said, ‘something about your personality doesn’t feel like it’s bipolar, I’ve seen bipolar before’.
Ye’s Autism Diagnosis and Controversy
The rapper elaborated on his condition, stating: “And I’ve come to find that it’s really a case of autism that I have.” He compared his experience to the movie “Rain Man,” particularly regarding his behavior patterns: “And autism takes you to a Rain Man thing where you’re like, I’m (going to) wear this Trump hat because I just like Trump in general.”
This diagnosis marks a shift from his previous mental health discussions. Ye confirmed he no longer takes medication, citing that “autism is not an illness, it is not medicated.” This stance contrasts with previous concerns raised by his former wife, Kim Kardashian, who in 2020 addressed the challenges of managing his mental health, stating: “Those that understand mental illness or even compulsive behavior know that the family is powerless unless the member is a minor.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called on X owner Elon Musk to remove Ye from the platform, emphasizing that “At a time of unprecedented antisemitism, there can be no mistaking this incitement for exactly what it is.”
This request follows Ye’s previous eight-month suspension from the platform in October 2022 for posting imagery combining a swastika with a Jewish star.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the intersection of Ye’s mental health journey and his public behavior remains a subject of intense public scrutiny and debate.
