Fallout over Kanye West’s controversial and anti-Semitic comments continues.Balenciaga, the French fashion house that’s had a long-standing relationshipwith West and his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, announced it’s severed ties withthe rapper.
“Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projectsrelated to this artist,” its parent company Kering told WWD in a statement. Itdid not elaborate further. Earlier this month, West walked the runway forBalenciaga’s 2023 Paris Fashion Week show — just one day before the Grammywinner’s “White Lives Matter” stunt at his own Yeezy presentation.
West immediately faced backlash after the show. In subsequent interviews,including one with Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson, he remained defiantwhile also spewing antisemitic rhetoric as part of his defense. Balenciaga isthe first major company to end its relationship with West. In an op-ed for_Financial Times_ , Ari Emanuel specifically called out Apple and Spotifynot to do business with West.
“West is not just any person — he is a pop culture icon with millions of fansaround the world,” the powerful Hollywood agent wrote. “And among them areyoung people whose views are still being formed. This is why it is necessaryfor all of us to speak out. Hatred and antisemitism should have no place inour society, no matter how much money is at stake.”
Emanuel praised his clients, LeBron James and Maverick Carter, for not airingWest’s interview on the the shop, which purportedly contained dangerousrhetoric.
“Those who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate anaudience,” the Endeavor CEO added. “There should be no tolerance anywhere forWest’s antisemitism. This is a moment in history where the stakes are high andbeing open about our values, and living them, is essential. Silence andinaction are not an option.”
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Practically no public figures have come to West’s defense, but Trevor Noahoffered a different take on the situation. The “Runaway” rapper has frequentlybashed The Daily Show host, even calling Noah a racial slur earlier thisyear, but Noah made clear there is no “beef” with West as that has to be two-sided.
“I was never beefing with Kanye West, I was concerned about Kanye West,” Noahrecently said while filming his show. The comedian called out publications forgiving West an outlet while he may be dealing with mental health issues.
“If somebody says to me, or to anyone, that they have a mental health issue,and they say to everyone that when they don’t take their medication, they’reunable to control themselves and then everyone ignores when that person ishaving an episode and they haven’t taken their medication, and then theyplatform the person and then they put them out.
“My grandfather was bipolar, and one thing we knew in the family was — and I’mnot saying Kanye is, by the way — I’m just saying my grandfather was,” Noahadded. “When he was having one of his episodes, he could act in a certain way…but our job was to support him.”
After a string of controversial outbursts in 2018, West revealed he wasbipolar. He hasn’t spoken much about the diagnosis since. The rapper hasslammed anyone who tries to relate his public statements to his mental health.
“I don’t have beef with that human being. What I have beef with is us as asociety not coming together around a person and going like, hey, hey, hey,maybe this is not the moment to put a microphone in your face, so you just gooff saying everything,” Noah added. “If this is what you want to say whenyou’re on your medication, then that’s a different story, but because you’vetold us that, I’m not gonna sit by.”
West is in hot water legally for what he’s been saying, too. George Floyd’sdaughter will be suing the rapper for comments he made questioning Floyd’scause of death.
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