In the aftermath of numerous past antisemitic remarks, rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has extended an apology to the Jewish community.
What Happened: The rapper expressed remorse for any harm caused by his comments and sought forgiveness from the Jewish community, as per Reuters. This public apology was shared on his X and Instagram accounts on Tuesday.
The apology from Ye comes in the wake of several delays to his new album, “Vultures,” which pushed the release date back to January from the original October timeline.
Over the past year, Ye has been called out for antisemitic posts on social media, including allegations against musician Sean “Diddy” Combs and the use of derogatory symbols. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a body that monitors antisemitic incidents, noted 59 instances featuring the rapper in 2022 alone.
Ye’s previous comments led to significant repercussions, such as the termination of his collaborations with Adidas and Gap and restrictions on his social media activities.
Regardless of the controversy, the ADL welcomed Ye’s apology, underscoring the importance of actions over words. Ye pledged to foster sensitivity and unity in the future.
Why It Matters: Ye’s apology follows a tumultuous period for the rapper’s career and business ventures. The rapper’s new album “Vultures”, featuring the Backstreet Boys tribute track “Everybody”, was shared online in a teaser recently.
In October 2022, Adidas severed its ties with Ye due to his controversial antisemitic remarks, resulting in a $247 million impact for the company in 2022.
However, Adidas decided to team up with Ye again in May 2023 to sell over $1.3 billion worth of leftover Yeezy merchandise that had been in storage.
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