Tons of celebs and fashion-forward industry insiders are in France for Paris Fashion Week. The event started on Sept. 26 and ends today (Oct. 4), featuring designers showcasing their bold new looks. While at a surprise Yeezy show, Kanye West debuted a shirt that read “White Lives Matter” in an extremely large font.
While Ye has always been one to go against the grain and speak his mind, his latest statement has many speaking out. Fellow rapper and Baton Rouge native Boosie tweeted, “[DAMN] @kanyewest [YOU] JUST GOING TO KEEP USING YOUR PLATFORM TO S**T ON YOUR OWN RACE LIKE THIS? THIS [IS] SAD! [AND] the Black people who still support you [are] even sadder! LAST TIME SPEAKING ON THIS [clown]. #KanyeWestDoesntLikeBlackPeople DO US A FAVOR [AND] BLEACH YOUR SKIN ALL WHITE! Thanks.”
DAM @kanyewest U JUST GOING TO KEEP USING YOUR PLATFORM TO SHIT ON YOUR OWN RACE LIKE THIS 🤷🏾♂️ THIS SAD ‼️N the black people who still support you r even sadder ‼️ LAST TIME SPEAKING ON THIS 🤡 #Kanyewestdoesntlikeblackpeople DO US A FAVOR N BLEACH YOUR SKIN ALL WHITE ‼️Thanks
— Boosie BadAzz (@BOOSIEOFFICIAL) October 4, 2022
He followed up his tweet with a photoshopped picture of West with bleached skin. Boosie wasn’t alone in his disapproval of Yeezy’s message. Jaden Smith also shared his views on Twitter, writing, “Black Lives Matter.” He added that he doesn’t care who the messenger is if he doesn’t agree with the message before saying, “True leaders lead.”
Celebrity hairstylist Elgin Charles wrote, “Attn. Kanye West supporters [and] sympathizers: Anti-Blackness is NOT a symptom of bipolar disorder.” While responding to a commenter who asked, “Do white lives not matter?” former TMZ producer and personality Van Lathan explained why Ye’s message does not resonate with the masses.
“We don’t need a reminder of the worth of white lives. America is a shrine to the worth of white people,” Lathan began. He added that “it ALWAYS has to be about white people in America.” Lathan and West have had discussions on the topic in the past, with the former TMZ producer trying to educate the rapper on what the movement is about.
Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson called Ye out on Instagram for his shirt’s message. In a series of Story posts, she called his choice of clothing “deeply offensive, violent and dangerous.” West got wind of her statements and released one of his own, essentially bashing the Black editor. Gigi Hadid, a white model, responded in Karefa-Johnson’s defense calling Yeezy a “bully and a joke” who wished he “had a percentage of her intellect.”
Read more tweets below.
Kanye West: “I just love Trump” and, by the way, slavery was “a choice.”
Van Lathan: "While you are making music and being an artist…the rest of us…have to deal with the marginalization that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was a choice." https://t.co/DR1wsO8alg
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) May 1, 2018
Just Do it ‼️ pic.twitter.com/AATOh9aSPZ
— Boosie BadAzz (@BOOSIEOFFICIAL) October 4, 2022
Kanye West decision to wear a “White Lives Matter” shirt is disgusting, dangerous, and irresponsible. Some of y’all will rush to defend him. You should ask yourselves why… pic.twitter.com/YT4a6c9tKI
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) October 3, 2022
Black Lives Matter
— Jaden (@jaden) October 3, 2022
This is Kanye West’s instagram story right now. pic.twitter.com/E73zNCd6Io
— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) October 4, 2022
This is all that needs to be said in regards to Kanye West and his White Lives Matter shirt. pic.twitter.com/v2ykdgT4WN
— _Joesy_ 🧚🏾♀️ (@015Serenity) October 3, 2022
Gigi Hadid slams Kanye West as she comes to fashion editor Gabriella-Karefa Johnson’s defense:
“You wish u had a percentage of her intellect… You're a bully and a joke.” pic.twitter.com/zIvFr93XAi
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 4, 2022
Attn. Kanye West supporters & sympathizers:
🗣️Anti-Blackness is NOT a symptom of bipolar disorder.
— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) October 4, 2022
Kanye West edition of “How it started/How it’s going” pic.twitter.com/1F5q5jbdt8
— Wu-Tang Is For The Children (@WUTangKids) October 3, 2022
On the left, Kanye West's new "White Lives Matter" hoodie.
On the right, the original "White Lives Matter" hoodie. pic.twitter.com/Ygqwr5Cs5F
— 𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗝𝗮𝘆𝗘𝗺 (@akaMisterJayEm) October 3, 2022
Kanye West and Candace Owens have to be the 2 stupidest individuals on earth. The fact that they are using racism directed also to them, to get attention, is just on a whole new level of pitiful. This is not even pathetic. This is embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/jSKpHb7j0j
— 🇮🇹🇺🇸 Anis Jerbi 🇺🇦🇹🇳 (@ArtistAJ17) October 3, 2022
Stop buying Kanye West's crap. pic.twitter.com/GbTJSaxXjy
— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) October 4, 2022