Kanye West under fire for wearing ‘White Lives Matter’ T-shirt

Kanye West once again stirs up a controversy setting the internet world on fire. Ye held a surprise Yeezy fashion show in Paris on Monday. The rapper featured his high-fashion season 9 collection.

Although it was a fashion show, the attendees were in for a bigger surprise. Kanye West showcased a “secret” catwalk event, including a T-shirt with the slogan, “White Lives Matter.” 

The “White Lives Matter” T-shirt has the Pope’s face printed on the front. Before the Yeezy Season 9 presentation started, Ye spoke to the audience alongside Candace Owens as the rightwing commentator. Before the models graced the stage, Kanye West gave a speech wearing the same T-shirt.

Kanye West wearing a White Lives Matter hoodie‼️😳 pic.twitter.com/9Xr7UCQAdF

— RapTV (@Rap) October 3, 2022

West said, “Everyone here knows that I am the leader. You can’t manage me. This is an unmanageable situation.” He referenced his ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s robbery event in Paris in 2016. Ye also mentioned his recent contract ending with Gap and his former manager Scooter Braun.

Before the Yeezy fashion event, Kanye West hinted that famous models would join, including Kim Kardashian. Some of the names he mentioned were Candice Swanepoel, ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, Angelina Jolie, Emily Ratajkowski, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, Bella Hadid, Amelia Gray Hamlin, and Gisele Bündchen.

However, Naomi Campbell, Shayk, and Hamlin are the only ones who made appearances at the show. But she didn’t wear the  “White Lives Matter” T-shirt. West’s daughter, North West, was also at the event and led a children’s choir with a song performance.

Jaden Smith’s reaction to Kanye West’s White Lives Matter shirt‼️ pic.twitter.com/U2tGgEMm4X

— RapTV (@Rap) October 3, 2022

Some models wore the controversial T-shirt while fans were ablaze on social media. One user tweeted, “Sending a “WHITE LIVES MATTER” t-shirt down a runway in Paris is literal insanity, and no amount of gospel is getting that man through Heaven’s gate; I’m so sorry,”

Moreover, the Anti-Defamation League classifies the phrase “White Lives Matter” as a hate statement. It was a phrase that rewords the Black Lives Matter phrase that was used in protest against racial injustices.

In 2018, West had already talked about race. He said the 400 years of US slavery “sounds like a choice.” But he then tried to dismiss the comment. 

Furthermore, the Yeezy show indicates West’s comeback to high-profile fashion. This follows his contract deals with Adidas and Gap. the rapper claimed that Gap couldn’t meet his contract terms.

https://twitter.com/ACTBrigitte/status/1577086150518489089?s=20&t=V-8t1el6ey0_M3Z9ba5-Xg

Since then, he started criticizing the prices of some Gap T-shirts, which cost $200. West also announced his plan to end his deal with Adidas in the same month. Kanye West said, “it’s time for me to go it alone.”

In addition to the list of controversies, the Yeezy show in New York also earned criticism. In 2016, models must stand for long hours under the heat and without water. The Yeezy show started two hours late, and one of the models even fainted.

Kanye West began his fashion designing career in 2008. He interned at Fendi and then attended his first Paris Fashion Week the following year. However, this is the first time Ye brought his designs to fashion week.

West also told Vogue, “Paris is the high cathedral of fashion. If I’m doing music, rap music, I’m going to put my hoodie on and get an Uber and go over to Future’s house. Day after day. And if we’re working on clothes? Paris.”