Hip hop giant Kanye West has claimed he lost US$2 billion in a single day in wake of his anti-Semitic remarks.
In a Thursday post on picture-sharing site Instagram, the musician, who now goes as Ye, said he had lost two billion dollars in one day but he was still alive. Kanye addressed the remarks to media agency Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel.
He went on to term his Instagram remarks “love speech”. The money, Kanye said, was not who he was. It was (actually) the people, he said.
“Ari Emanuel. I lost 2 billion dollars in one day. And I’m still alive. This is love speech. I still love you. God still loves you. The money is not who I am. The people is who I am.”
Kanye had had relations severed with many companies following a reported spate of anti-Semitic remarks. In a recent podcast Kanye had quipped how he could pass such remarks and Adidas would not drop him. In a Twitter post earlier, the musician had tweeted how he would “go death Con 3 on Jewish People”. “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” he reportedly wrote earlier in October. His account was suspended after for violating site policy.
In an October 25 statement, Adidas said it had “immediately” severed ties with Kanye. “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness. After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies. adidas will stop the adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Gap announced likewise in a statement the same day citing how “antisemitism, racism and hate in any form” were “inexcusable”. “In September, Gap announced ending its Yeezy Gap partnership. Our former partner’s recent remarks and behavior further underscore why. We are taking immediate steps to remove Yeezy Gap product from our stores and we have shut down YeezyGap.com. Antisemitism, racism and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values. On behalf of our customers, employees and shareholders, we are partnering with organisations that combat hate and discrimination,” the brand said.
Kanye’s talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) also dropped him following his anti-Semitic comments. A source cognisant of the matter reportedly confirmed to an American broadcast and television network.
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