Kanye West is facing criticism for his most recent fashion choice. On Monday, West wore a shirt with a picture of Pope John Paul II on it. West has now officially changed his name to Ye. On the back, there was big text that read, “White Lives Matter.” The statement is referred to as a “hate slogan” by organisations that support White supremacy, such as the Ku Klux Klan, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
At his YZY runway show during Paris Fashion Week, West also wore apparel with the same word on it on multiple Black models. The event’s guest and wearer of the same shirt was the conservative commentator Candace Owens. The show’s pictures and videos went viral, and West was immediately criticised.Using Twitter, Jaden Smith posted the phrases “Black Lives Matter” and “True Leaders Lead. He added, “I Don’t Care Who’s It Is If I Don’t Feel The Message I’m Out.”
One person commented on the post saying, “Phrases like ‘WLM’ and ‘Blue Lives Matter’ are reactionary responses in an attempt to silence the affirmation of Black lives. What Kanye West is doing is dangerous and only promotes further harm against the community he claims to care about.” On Tuesday, West did not back down from the statement or express regret for using it.
Others remembered his infamous visit to the White House while he was sporting a “MAGA” hat. West has also stirred up controversy in the past by donning a Confederate flag-adorned blazer in 2013. West said in a statement to Vogue, “There’s just people. From the same planet. And sometimes, in high school, it feels like we don’t fit in. And in a situation like this, we have the opportunity to come together to express who we are.” He further said, “It’s leaning into the shape of how I see this future world … this alternate world. But in high school. It’s focused on curriculum because both my parents are educators.”
Over the past week, West has been attending fashion shows in Paris and London. On Sunday, he even made his runway debut as a model by introducing the Balenciaga show. The star’s trip down the slick runway was watched by Khloé Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and his daughter North West from the front row.