Kanye West’s Fam & M8s Are Unfollowing Him After His Donald Trump Tweets
Kanye-gate is taking the world by storm right now, and now it’s time to deal with the fall out.
If you’re not up to date with the latest Kanye controversy – you can get thoroughly up to speed here. Basically, Kanye’s made a bold return to Twitter, hitting us with philosophical life advice last week, and has now followed it up with a whole lot of… I don’t even know what.
But today a bunch of his friends and fam aren’t sticking around to hear any more.
Kanye’s most recent slew of tweets (about 80 all up) cover topics including his management team, future presidential bid, apparel line Yeezy, and most controversially, his thoughts on Donald Trump.
There’s a lot to dig into, but to skim the surface for context, among his tweets we have this:
You don't have to agree with trump but the mob can't make me not love him. 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.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
And this:
we got love pic.twitter.com/Edk0WGscp6
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
And this:
my MAGA hat is signed ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/DrDHJybS8V
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
Understandably, Kanye’s supportive attitude towards a president that is not exactly popular with his fans – or ya know, the world at large – is ruffling a few feathers.
For starters, it didn’t sit quite right with wife Kim Kardashian who picked up the phone to keep him in line.
my wife just called me and she wanted me to make this clear to everyone. I don't agree with everything Trump does. I don't agree 100% with anyone but myself.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
As for the rest of his Kardashian fam, it looks like Kylie, Khloé and Kourtney all unfollowed him today. While Kris it seems only started following him today (maybe stepping in as PR manager for damage control???)
Among Kanye’s celeb m8s that have unfollowed him since the whole MAGA “independent thought” disaster, we have Teyana Taylor, Travis Scott, Cyhi The Prynce, Pusa T and 2 Chainz, as well as Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, according to Does Follow.
John Legend not only unfollowed Kanye, but also shared some insightful counter-commentary to critique Kanye’s statements.
Legend dished out a hardline position on the responsibility of powerful artists to acknowledge the ingrained racism in society today and not “be blind to the truth.”
I imagine there's some comfort in imagining a future without racism and projecting that onto the present. Thinking if we just deny the truth, it doesn't exist. If history is erased, we don't have to deal with its consequences. However…
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 25, 2018
Far too many people don't have the luxury of closing their eyes and ears. They feel it in their lives and can't act like what they see and know doesn't exist.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 25, 2018
They know their family was destroyed by deportation or incarceration. They know their loved one was denied safe harbor because of their religion. They know their son or daughter was shot because their skin color evoked fear
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 25, 2018
They see the statistics about black applications for real estate or loans or employment being turned away because their name was Jamal and not James
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 25, 2018
I love that great, brilliant artists have the power to imagine a better future. But artists can't be blind to the truth.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 25, 2018
Janelle Monáe also gave a concise criticism to shut down the position Kanye was taking, which claims allegiance to independent thought and free thinking.
Quote me https://t.co/vaCYun2Dwv
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) April 25, 2018
Janelle Monáe said everything that needed to be said regarding Kanye’s views pic.twitter.com/1yXEPJcnVb
— Chris (@chrstnavelli) April 25, 2018
In a radio interview on Hot 97, she said in response to Kanye’s statements:
“I believe in free thinking, but I don’t believe in free thinking at the expense of the oppressed,” she told the US radio station.
“If your free thinking is used as fuel by oppressors to continue to oppress black people or minorities, I think it’s bullshit and it’s not okay.”
Meanwhile a subtle but clearly pissed off Jaden Smith tweeted out two simple words “False Idols,” shortly after Kanye went all MAGA on us.
False Idols
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) April 25, 2018
The disappointment from Kanye’s network of friends and fans is loud, and entirely understandable.