Kanye West Hits Out At Black Lives Matter In Instagram Post, Calls It 'A Scam'

Kanye West is under fire on social media after he dissed the Black Lives Matter movement that caused protests against social and racial injustices.

The rapper and designer slammed the global cause on Instagram, where he commands more than 17 million followers, after wearing a provocative 'White Lives Matter' sweater at his surprise Yeezy fashion show in Paris on Monday evening. 

In a post written in white upper-case lettering on a stark black background, West, 43, addressed his followers, writing: 'Everyone knows Black Lives Matter was a scam. Now it's over. You're welcome.'

The outspoken star appeared to be reinforcing a lack of faith in the cause, which has developed a reputation for staging mass street protests regarding the perceived mistreatment of minorities around the world. 

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Founded in 2013 following the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in the United States, Black Lives Matter became famous globally after George Floyd's unlawful killing by a white police officer in 2020.  

While the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and slogan are reminders of the racism and injustices blacks suffer globally, West left his fans shocked with his remarks.

Launching an unexpected Yeezy show during Paris Fashion Week, he wore a sweater emblazoned with a White Lives Matter statement while watching his parade of models take to the catwalk in garments bearing the same inflammatory message. 

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The rapper and singer was joined by divisive right-wing commentator Candace Owens, who beamed while wearing a complementary version of West's sweater.

The Anti-Defamation League has previously called the phrase 'White Lives Matter' a hate slogan.

The slogan worn on West and Owens' shirts has previously been used by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist organizations as an attack against the Black Lives Matter movement and Black people more broadly.

This move apparently hints toward West distancing himself from black politics.

Back in 2005, the singer made headlines after he appeared on a telethon for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and declared: 'George Bush doesn't care about black people.'

Since then, he has aligned himself with right-wing figures such as Owens, as well as former President Donald Trump, and has regularly sported a red Make America Great Again cap in public. 

In fact, in May 2018 interview West vehemently showed his support for Trump, stating: 'Racism isn't the deal-breaker for me. If that was the case, I wouldn't live in America.' 

‘I am Ye, and everyone here knows that I am the leader,’ West said at the event while referencing his new legal name, adding: ‘You can’t manage me.’

Well, this controversy comes as no surprise for anyone as previously the rapper stated that in 2018 that he thought 400 years of slavery 'was a choice.'

He told TMZ: 'When you hear about slavery for 400 years ... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice. You were there for 400 years and it's all of y'all. It's like we're mentally imprisoned.'

West later apologized for those remarks but also described them as an example of 'free thought.' 

In April 2018, he again drew huge criticism when he tweeted: 'I love the way Candace Owens thinks.'

In response to West's White Lives Matter sweater, Lathan wrote on Instagram: 'We don't need a reminder of the worth of white lives. America is a shrine to the worth of white people.'

He went on: 'This message is reactionary to a message affirming the worth of Black lives, which have never been worth anything in America. In its intent, it's a white supremacist notion.'

Lathan continued: 'Because it posits that we can't have a conversation about the worth of Black people without having a conversation about the worth of white people, which is f***ing insane.'

The producer concluded: 'The notion that it ALWAYS has to be about white people in America is incredibly frustrating, emotional draining, and the whole problem. But here's Kanye, apparently centering that notion.'

In the hip-hop community, outspoken rapper Boosie Badazz, who famously bragged about paying prostitutes to perform oral sex on his son, then 12, and nephew, then, 13, called out West

Boosie said: 'After all we been through as a race you put this disrespectful s**t on? U give no f**ks about how blacks have died n suffered to the hands of the white man n u say Bush don't like black people... really n****a.' 

While Temple University Professor Marc Lamont Hill tweeted the picture of West together with Owen and wrote: 'Kanye West decision to wear a “White Lives Matter” shirt is disgusting, dangerous, and irresponsible. Some of y’all will rush to defend him. You should ask yourselves why…' 

Former ESPN presenter Jemele Hill said: 'So many folks are trying to excuse Kanye wearing a white lives matter t-shirt as just a troll move or marketing. Maybe it is.'

She went on: 'But it’s a dangerously dumb message to send for someone with his massive platform. I been off dude. But y’all go ahead labeling his foolishness as genius.'

Will Smith's son, Jaden, tweeted: 'I can't stand behind what Kanye's saying. He doesn't have the full support of the youth.' He followed that up with a simple: 'Black Lives Matter.' 

In fact, the singer not only sparked this controversy but also gave a speech to the audience where he referenced his ex-wife Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery in 2016, where she was held at gunpoint, as well as his fallout with clothing giant Gap.

As a matter off act, it is quite surprising to see West with Owens as she called his ex Kim Kardashian a prostitute on her Daily Wire show in September after Kardashian's ex Ray J claimed she and her mother Kris Jenner had released their sex tape in a calculated manner, 'like an album.'

And even though the rapper has a public feud with his ex over her parenting style and her former boyfriend Pete Davidson, he has eagerly expressed his desire to get back with her for months.

Among those modeling West's shirts was Selah Marley, 23, the daughter of former Fugees lead singer Lauryn Hill and the granddaughter of the iconic Bob Marley, a chronicler of black people's struggle for freedom.

Selah posted a video showing her talking and joking with West at the event. In the video, Selah is wearing a White Lives Matter shirt.

She captioned the video: 'Love u @KanyeWest.' In total, Selah posted three videos showing her wearing the item.

The model, who is represented by NEXT Models, was previously the face of Beyoncé's activewear line, Ivy Park SS17. In a 2017, she described West as one of her role models.

Selah said: 'He's been through a lot of persecution in the media and by people, but it doesn't stop him from being who he is.'

In an interview with Vogue Business prior to his show, West expressed his determination to make YZY an inclusive brand, despite having his hopes dashed with some of his recent clothing collaborations.

The College Dropout rapper recently terminated his collaboration with Gap, and he has now outlined his long-term ambition for his fashion brand.

Kanye — who has legally changed his name to Ye — explained: 'Our point, our idea, is that there is no one who is not welcome at YZY, at Donda.

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