The topline
Kanye West, also known as Ye, has been banned from Twitter again after sharing an image combining the Star of David and a swastika, billionaire owner Elon Musk announced Friday—it’s the latest in a series of widely criticized antisemitic remarks from the rapper and the move indicates one of Musk’s red lines for content and free speech on the platform.
KanyeWest was banned from Twitter due to violating its policy regarding inciting violence.AFP via Getty Images
Here are some key facts
West had been previously expelled for antisemitic postings. He was then suspended following sharing an image of an embedded swastika within the Star of David (a symbol of Judaism).
Musk, who had welcomed the rapper back to the platform in late November and has sought to turn Twitter into a haven of free speech, confirmed West’s account had been suspended and its posts have been removed.
West was suspended for violating Twitter’s “rule against incitement to violence,” Musk stressed, noting that this was not his first infraction.
“I tried my best,” Musk said.
News Peg
West recently unleashed antisemitic comments on national media and social media. CNN reports that he has an alleged history of admiring Hitler. He was also widely decried for his meeting with Nick Fuentes – a holocaust denier and white nationalist. He has been removed from several social media platforms already and his behavior led to the demise of his business empire. In an interview with Alex Jones, a far-right conspirator theorist, West had just spoken out in support of Adolf Hitler’s Nazis. “I like Hitler,” West told Jones, spouting numerous antisemitic conspiracy theories. He said the Nazis did “good things too” and that people should stop “dissing” them all the time. “I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis,” West told Jones, who pushed back against the comments. The comments were condemned by politicians across all political parties, even Republicans. New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, one of the few Republican Jewish members of Congress, told Politico West “is a deranged Anti-semite” and the Republican Jewish Coalition called the interview a “horrific cesspool of dangerous, bigoted Jew hatred.” Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, denounced West as a “vicious antisemite” and said his comments are “vile,” “offensive” and “put Jews in danger.”
Tangent
West’s plans to buy Parler, a self-touted “free speech” alternative to Twitter, fell through on Thursday. The company said the decision was mutual and CNN reported the rapper’s business difficulties as a factor in the decision, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Surprising Truth
West posted an unflattering image of Musk, topless, on a yacht, writing: “Let’s always remember this as my final tweet.” Musk clarified the post had no bearing on the decision to suspend West’s account. “Frankly, I found those pics to be helpful motivation to lose weight,” he said.
More Viewing
West’s posts have now been removed from Twitter. Drew Harwell is a tech reporter at the Washington Post, captured some of the rapper’s last activity on the platform.
SME Valuation
$198.9 billion. That’s Musk’s estimated net worth, according to SME’ real-time tracker. Twitter was purchased by him for $44Billion in October. His cofounding of the leading electric carmaker Tesla, and SpaceX rocket company is well-known. SMEWest, according to estimations, is worth approximately $400 million. After Adidas and other brands severed business relations, West was forced to drop out of the billionaire ranks in October.
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