Rapper and fashion designer Kanye West voiced his support and admiration for alt-right YouTube personality Candace Owens in a recent Twitter post.
Mutual Admiration
On Saturday, April 21, the 40-year-old sent the entire internet into chaos after, out of nowhere, he mentioned the Black Lives Matter critic.
I love the way Candace Owens thinks— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 21, 2018
Owens frequently appears as a guest speaker on Fox News and InfoWars. She is known for her website and YouTube channel Red Pill Back which promotes black conservatism. Due to her statements and videos that blasts the Black Live Matters, she became a right-wing favorite, said Newsweek. She also hailed President Donald J. Trump as not "just the leader of the free world, but the savior of it." On Sunday, April 22, Owens responded to West.
I’m freaking out. @kanyewest ....please take a meeting with me. I tell every single person that everything that I have been inspired to do, was written in your music. I am my own biggest fan, because you made it okay. I need you to help wake up the black community. https://t.co/Uz1nB9K0Oz — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 21, 2018
Backlash
Thanks to what Owens stands for, West's tweets on Saturday did not sit well with his 25.9 million followers. One of the first to react was Straight Outta Compton actor and NFL player Thomas Q. Jones. On his tweet, he referenced the Academy Award-nominated movie Get Out.
YEEZY GET OUT! pic.twitter.com/96p4brosIp — Thomas Q. Jones (@ThomasJonesRB) April 21, 2018
Celebrity gossip blog writer Perez Hilton also responded to the tweet.
So over you, Kanye! https://t.co/bVt7VEl1Vz — Perez (@ThePerezHilton) April 21, 2018
Comedian Tom Arnold called out West and pointed out some of Owens' controversial statements.
Aside from being an insane alt right race pimp Candace Owens thinks Donald Trump is literally the messiah not you @kanyewest so you might want to reconsider https://t.co/dKVnbi3Ila — Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) April 21, 2018
Writer and activist Raquel Willis said that West aligning himself with Owens is "messy and dangerous."
Today in how to irresponsibly use your platform. Yikes. https://t.co/xiYNWC2Jmt — Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) April 21, 2018
Candace Owens has proven to be anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ and fact-hating. (Honestly, there are so many more descriptors.) For Kanye to align himself with her is messy and dangerous. — Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) April 21, 2018
Given the public outcry, Owens clarified her perspective.
Far right? Allow me to clarify: I believe the black community can do it without hand-outs. I believe the Democrats have strapped us to our past to prevent us from our futures. And I won’t stop fighting until all black Americans see that. I’m not far right—I’m free. pic.twitter.com/wtqCuYPtM2 — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 21, 2018
West, in turn, explained his stance through a series of tweets.
Constantly bringing up the past keeps you stuck there— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 22, 2018
be fearless. Express what you feel not what you've been programmed to think. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 21, 2018
Demonization has metastasized— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 22, 2018
The thought police want to suppress freedom of thought — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 22, 2018
Kanye West Meets Donald Trump
West, who is working on his next two albums, previously made headlines when he met President Trump in 2016. At the time, he said that the meeting was to discuss life and multicultural issues specifically in his hometown, Chicago.
Last year, West deleted tweets supporting the Republican leader.
