With admiration for statements about Hitler and the Nazis, the controversial American rapper Kanye West again provoked outrage. “I like Hitler” and “I love Nazis,” the 45-year-old said in an interview with prominent far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Thursday. Shortly after this appearance, right-wing online network Parler announced that its proposed sale to West had been cancelled.

West: Hitler also did good deeds

“I also see the good in Hitler,” said the musician and fashion designer, who renamed himself E during an interview and completely covered his face with a black mask. “This guy (…) invented the autobahns and the microphone that I used as a musician,” added the 45-year-old, previously discredited by anti-Semitic statements. “You can’t say out loud that this person has ever done anything good, and I can’t take it anymore.”

When Jones replied that the Nazis did “really bad things,” West replied, “But they also did good things. We must stop constantly condemning the Nazis. (…) I love the Nazis.” Prominent anti-Semite and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes also attended an interview on Jones’ Infowars platform, in which West also raved about sin, pornography and the devil. West was with him last week at the ex-president Donald Trump eaten dinner.

The rapper’s statements immediately sparked outrage

The rapper’s comments immediately sparked outrage. The Republican Jewish Coalition, which sees itself as a liaison between the Republican Party and the Jewish community, described West as “a vile, vile bigot who subjected the Jewish community to Nazi-style threats and slander.” West, Fuentes, and Jones formed “an obnoxious triumvirate of conspiracy theorists, Holocaust deniers, and anti-Semites.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog said he was “disgusted” by West’s statements. “At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise, it is alarming that such vile rhetoric should be given a platform and legitimized.”

West’s claims were also met with online outrage, with Parler announcing the end of his planned sale to the American rapper in the midst of it. The decision had already been made by mutual agreement “in mid-November,” parent company Parler Parlement Technologies explained.

In mid-October, West and Parler announced that the rapper was looking to buy the right-wing online network, founded in 2018. It has become especially popular among Trump supporters. West justified his intention to buy because he wanted to protect “freedom of speech” – he was also apparently looking for a new platform after his posts on Instagram and Twitter were deleted.

Several partners have ended their partnership with Kanye.

Because of West’s anti-Semitic statements, several companies have already stopped working with the 45-year-old man. Among them are German sporting goods manufacturer Adidas, fashion chain Gap and luxury brand Balenciaga.

West, who has been married to reality TV star Kim Kardashian for years, recently caused a stir when he had dinner with Fuentes at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump came under massive criticism within his own ranks over the meeting.

What Trump did was “wrong,” as former Vice President Mike Pence said, for example. “I think he should apologize.” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the party “has no place for anti-Semitism and racism.” Anyone who meets with anti-Semites and racists is “highly unlikely to ever be elected President of the United States.”

In mid-November, Trump announced that he wanted to run again in the 2024 presidential election. Kanye West also says he wants to run.
© AFP


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