Kanye West, now known as Ye, has once again ignited controversy by offering only one item for sale on his Yeezy website: a T-shirt emblazoned with a swastika. This move follows a bizarre Super Bowl ad and has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, given the symbol’s association with Nazi Germany and its history of hate and violence.
Super Bowl Ad Leads to Swastika T-Shirt:
During Super Bowl LIX, Ye aired a low-budget, self-shot commercial directing viewers to Yeezy.com. The ad featured the rapper sitting in what appeared to be a dentist’s chair, mumbling about spending all his money on new teeth and filming the ad on his iPhone. While the commercial itself seemed odd and surreal, it was what followed that caused the real uproar4.Within an hour of the ad airing, the Yeezy website underwent a complete transformation. All previous merchandise, consisting of plain, unbranded clothing items, was removed and replaced with a single product: a plain white T-shirt featuring a black swastika symbol. The shirt, labeled “HH-01,” is priced at $20 in the United States. The page offered no explanation or context for the design.
Intense Backlash and Condemnation:
The swastika is universally recognized as the emblem of Nazi Germany and its atrocities, so the sale of the shirt has been met with intense backlash and condemnation. Many have criticized Ye for promoting hate and insensitivity, especially given his history of controversial statements.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an anti-hate organization that fights discrimination against Jewish people, condemned Ye’s actions. The ADL stated that Ye chose to put a single item for sale on his website, a T-shirt emblazoned with a swastika, as if further proof of his antisemitism was needed. They added that the swastika is the symbol adopted by Hitler as the primary emblem of the Nazis and continues to threaten and instill fear in those targeted by antisemitism and white supremacy.
History of Antisemitic Remarks:
This incident is not the first time Ye has been accused of antisemitism. In 2022, he made a series of racist remarks but later issued an apology. However, this latest move has undone any goodwill he may have regained. Ye’s remarks led to him losing partnerships with Adidas and Gap for Yeezy products, as well as restrictions on his social media accounts.
Prior to the swastika T-shirt controversy, Ye was already facing criticism for lashing out at Taylor Swift on X, accusing her of being seen on TV singing a song about taking a Black man down. He has also openly declared himself a Nazi and praised Hitler on social media, resulting in his ban from X. Despite his history of problematic behavior, the Yeezy ad still managed to air during the Super Bowl, possibly because it was a localized buy rather than a national ad.
Contradictory Statements:
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Ye had previously stated he would never sell clothing featuring the swastika, saying he did not want his fans to be harmed for wearing such a symbol. However, his website is now selling the exact type of merchandise he once opposed. This contradiction has left many questioning his motives and intentions.
Following the Super Bowl and the subsequent controversy, Ye deactivated his X account. His Instagram account remains devoid of posts, with a link to the Yeezy site in his bio. It remains to be seen whether he has deactivated his account or if it has been banned again.
