Kanye West has once again ignited controversy with inflammatory social media posts, doubling down on his past rhetoric while introducing new provocative merchandise.
On February 7, the rapper-turned-fashion mogul took to X (formerly Twitter) in what many call one of his most extreme tirades yet. In a bizarre series of posts, West praised Adolf Hitler, declared himself a racist, and even demanded freedom for embattled hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. While fans and critics alike have grown accustomed to his erratic online behavior, this latest rant has further pushed the boundaries.
Early this morning, West escalated his antics by sharing an image of a T-shirt featuring a swastika, a symbol synonymous with hate and oppression. Alongside the image, he boasted, “I’ve wanted to make this tee shirt for years. My greatest performance art piece thus far.” The post, which quickly went viral, was met with widespread backlash, with many condemning his apparent attempt to normalize or exploit hateful imagery under the guise of artistic expression.
In addition to the swastika concept, West has reintroduced “White Lives Matter” shirts to the Yeezy website. The design closely resembles the ones he and conservative commentator Candace Owens famously wore during his 2022 Paris Fashion Week show—an event that first signaled his open alignment with far-right ideology. Social media users reacted quickly, with many expressing exhaustion over his continued descent into controversy.
“We just releasing anything now huh [skull emoji],” one user commented. Another added, “I’ve not seen anybody this desperate for attention in a while.”
West’s controversial posts didn’t stop at fashion. Amid his tirade, he also came to the defense of Diddy, who is currently facing serious legal issues, including allegations of sexual misconduct and human trafficking. West called for the Bad Boy Records founder’s release and blamed Diddy’s downfall on the #MeToo movement.
“This man gave his life to us,” he wrote. “This my idol. This my hero.”
Further solidifying his stance, West adjusted his Instagram following list to include only Diddy, his sons, and his wife, Bianca Censori.
West’s defense of Diddy has not gone unnoticed. Some of the attorneys representing Diddy’s alleged victims responded to his remarks in an interview with TMZ. One lawyer dismissed the idea of Diddy being released, stating, “Birds of a feather flock together,” while another suggested that West seek professional mental health treatment.
While many continue to debate whether West’s behavior stems from genuine beliefs, mental health struggles, or a calculated attempt to remain in the public eye, his latest moves have only further alienated him from mainstream audiences and business partners. With each controversy, the once-revered artist seems to push himself further into self-imposed exile, leaving fans and critics questioning what—if anything—will bring him back from the brink.
