Kanye West has been criticised by a number black artists and fans for tweeting his support of “brother” Donald Trump and sharing a photo of himself wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.
In a lengthy string of tweets overnight, West said he and Trump — who famously held a meeting during the 2016 US Presidential campaign — share a “dragon energy”.
“You don’t have to agree with trump but the mob can’t make me not love him,” Kanye said.
“We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don’t agree with everything anyone does. That’s what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.
“If your friend jumps off the bridge you don’t have to do the same. Ye being Ye is a fight for you to be you. For people In my life the idea of Trump is pretty much a 50 50 split but I don’t tell a Hillary supporter not to support Hillary. I love Hillary too.”
Kanye later shared a photo of himself with Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge and former Def Jam executive Lyor Cohen, as well as a photo of his signed ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/989222392630202368
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/989227154993963009
Donald Trump returned the “love”…
Thank you Kanye, very cool! https://t.co/vRIC87M21X
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2018
MAGA! https://t.co/jFf5ONASlv
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2018
…while Kanye’s wife Kim Kardashian West stepped in:
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/989192498307219456
Kanye’s posts didn’t sit well with a number of black artists, however.
Janelle Monáe, who spoke with Hot 97 about Kanye’s support of right-wing activist Candace Owens — which she later confirmed could also be quoted in relation to Trump — said, “I believe in free thinking, but I don’t believe in free thinking if it’s rooted in or at the expense of the oppressed. If your free thinking is used as fuel by oppressors to continue to oppress black people, minorities, I think it’s bullshit and not okay.”
Quote me https://t.co/vaCYun2Dwv
— Janelle Monáe????? (@JanelleMonae) April 25, 2018
The likes of Ice-T, Jaden Smith and Smino have also shared their views online:
This shit is outta control.. I’m DONE. https://t.co/fgMPPmmmik
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) April 25, 2018
This nigga….. WTF?
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) April 25, 2018
False Idols
— Jaden (@jaden) April 25, 2018
Make Kanye Black Again. https://t.co/wvKxbL2bjJ
— smi (@smino) April 25, 2018
Someone who still appears to support Kanye is Chance The Rapper, who tweeted, “Black people don’t have to be democrats.”
Chance also told fans that he visited Kanye recently, and said he was in “in a great space and not affected by folk tryna question his mental or physical health. Same Ye from the Vmas, same Ye from the telethon”.
Talked to him two days ago. He’s in a great space and not affected by folk tryna question his mental or physical health. Same Ye from the Vmas, same Ye from the telethon. https://t.co/2zY3KpllV2
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 25, 2018
Kim Kardashian West has also defended Kanye in her own statements.
“Now when he spoke out about Trump… Most people (including myself) have very different feelings & opinions about this. But this is HIS opinion,” she said.
“I believe in people being able to have their own opinions, even if really different from mine. He never said he agrees with his politics.
“Kanye will never run in the race of popular opinion and we know that and that’s why I love him and respect him and in a few years when someone else says the same exact thing but they aren’t labeled the way he is and you will all praise them! Kanye is years ahead of his time.”
Kim’s statements were later criticised by rapper Azealia Banks, who said:
Despite all the criticism, Kanye still seems to be set on running for US President in 2024. He’s also got two new albums coming out in June.
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/988984329295441921
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/989162018664935424
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/989228791976284160
