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MUSIC fans are split on whether Kanye West should be banned from streaming platforms like Spotify after his anti-Semitism rant on Twitter.
A Glasgow Clyde College online poll found that students were 50/50 about whether or not
Kanye’s music should still be streamed at all.
This comes after the artist said on Twitter last month: “When I wake up, I am going to
go deathcon three on all Jews.”
Kanye has not apologised for his anti-Semitic tweet and has since been given television coverage to try and clear up his remarks.
He has continued to repeat how he feels about Jews by stating that black people cannot be anti-Semitic, stating that: “We are Semite, we are Jews, and so I can’t be anti-Semite.”
Kanye’s comments have been embraced by some anti-Semitic groups and extremist Hebrew Israelite sects have praised him over the last month for helping to spread their teachings to more people.
Other extremist groups, such as White Lives Matter, a group Kanye has publicly supported, have leveraged his comments to further their own agendas and inspire more propaganda campaigns.
Kanye’s music has over a billion streams worldwide on apps such as Spotify or Apple Music. DJ’s and radio stations have mixed views.
An Ayrshire-based radio station West FM host said: “I have a lot of personal thoughts but as a host I mostly have a say in the music I choose to play for my audience. I cannot speak for the whole of West FM. I do not think I will be playing any of his music unless Kanye comes out with some massive apology, and he is forgiven by the communities he has offended.”
Tay FM added: “We will have to wait for further information on this before we take action.”
West has been slated for previously making controversial comments. He infamously said: “Slavery was a choice” during his presidential run. He also is under scrutiny for claiming George Floyd was not murdered but instead died from a fentanyl overdose. Family members of George Floyd are suing Kanye West over these comments.
Many of Kanye’s loyal followers and even his ex-wife Kim Kardashian have spoken out against Kanye. Kim tweeted: “Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.”
Spotify did however release a statement recently saying, they won’t remove West’s music after
his anti-Semitic outbursts because lyrics to his songs aren’t offensive.
Spotify said it would not remove Kanye West’s music unless his label requested it after corporations around the world cut ties with the rapper, such as Adidas and Balenciaga.
SoundCloud and Apple Music have been contacted for comment.
