Kanye West is currently selling T-shirts featuring swastikas on his website, marking the latest episode in a week filled with hateful posts from the rapper on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
The controversy gained more attention on Sunday when West, who now goes by Ye, aired a local TV commercial during the Super Bowl. The 30-second spot, filmed by West at a dentist’s office on his iPhone, promoted his Yeezy website. While it was broadcast during the Super Bowl, it only reached viewers in select markets, as the ad was not aired nationally on Fox. Fox has not yet commented on the matter. The orders for the $20 T-shirts are being processed through Shopify, which also has not responded to requests for comment.
In recent days, West has posted a series of hateful messages on his X account, including antisemitic, homophobic, and misogynistic remarks, which have sparked backlash from celebrities, Jewish organizations, and anti-hate groups. Some of West’s posts were flagged for violating X’s policies on hateful conduct, limiting the ability to engage with them, such as sharing or liking them.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned West’s actions, stating that the swastika represents the Nazis and their ideology, continuing to inspire fear and hatred against Jews and other targeted groups.
On Sunday evening, West seemed to deactivate his X account, thanking Elon Musk for allowing him to express himself. In response to a user’s complaint about West posting explicit content, Musk remarked that the account is now flagged as NSFW (Not Safe for Work).
West was previously suspended from the platform in 2022 for “incitement to violence,” but his account was reinstated in July 2023.
Recently, West revealed that he had been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder but now believes he has autism, a diagnosis he says has helped him understand himself better.
The rapper’s history of controversial remarks has led to the end of several business relationships, including with major brands like Gap and Adidas. Some close to him have also mentioned his long-standing fascination with Hitler, even sharing that he once considered naming an album after the Nazi leader.