Ahmaud Arbery Family: Kanye West’s ‘White Lives Matter’ Stunt ‘Legitimizes’ Extremist Behavior
Category: News & Politics
Via: tessylo • 2 years ago • 6 commentsBy: Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Ahmaud Arbery Family: Kanye West’s ‘White Lives Matter’ Stunt ‘Legitimizes’ Extremist Behavior
Wanda-Cooper-Jones-Kanye-West - Credit: Sean Rayford/Getty Images; George Pimentel/Getty Images
Kanye West ’s latest stunt of championing the slogan “White Lives Matter” and decrying Black Lives Matter as a “scam” has not only brought sharp rebukes from his music and fashion industry peers , but from the mother of Ahmaud Arbery , whom the rapper had privately supported after her son was murdered in a racially-motivated attack.
Wanda Cooper-Jones tells Rolling Stone in a statement that West’s actions “flies directly in the face” of what he had expressed to her family after her 25-year-old son was killed when he went for a jog in Georgia and three white neighbors chased him down and shot him in February 2020.
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“As a result of his display ‘White Lives Matter’ started trending in the U.S., which would direct support and legitimize extremist behavior, [much] like the behavior that took the life of her son,” Cooper-Jones relayed through Merritt. “That is the thing that Wanda and families like hers continue to fight against.”
“This mockery of the Black Lives Matter movement and his now denunciation of the movement as some sort of hoax flies directly in the face [of what he’s said,]” the statement added. “It’s confusing for her, it’s confusing for the families to receive his support privately, but publicly to set us all back.”
Merritt confirmed to Rolling Stone that West had given some financial support to Arbery’s family as well as the family of Jemel Roberson — a Black security guard who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2018 — but did not disclose the amount.
West is catching heat from all sides following his latest attention-seeking antics, which included inviting right-wing conservative pundit Candace Owens to his show and posing with her in matching “White Lives Matter” shirts. The stunt prompted Jaden Smith to walk out of the show, as well as Dazed fashion writer Lynette Nylander. (The phrase “White Lives Matter” was borne out of a “racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement,” according to the Anti-Defamation League and “promotes a white supremacist worldview, advocating for raising “white racial consciousness.”)
And rather accept valid criticism about how tone-deaf his messaging was, West lashed out at Vogue stylist and fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson on Instagram after she had diplomatically expressed her thoughts, saying while West had tried to “illustrate a dystopian world in the future when whiteness might become extinct” it ultimately was an “incredibly irresponsible and dangerous act.”
Instead, he proclaimed that “everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam. Now its [sic] over. You’re welcome,” before accusing French billionaire Bernard Arnault, the CEO of fashion group LVMH, for being responsible for the death of Virgil Abloh.
West’s targeting of Karefa-Johnson and Abloh sparked harsh critiques from Gigi Hadid, who called West a “bully,” Vogue photographer who called his attack on Karefa-Johnson “corny AF,” and Supreme creative director Tremaine Emory, who labeled West “an insecure narcissist that’s dying for validation from the fashion world.”
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West is catching heat from all sides following his latest attention-seeking antics, which included inviting right-wing conservative pundit Candace Owens to his show and posing with her in matching “White Lives Matter” shirts. The stunt prompted Jaden Smith to walk out of the show, as well as Dazed fashion writer Lynette Nylander. (The phrase “White Lives Matter” was borne out of a “racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement,” according to the Anti-Defamation League and “promotes a white supremacist worldview, advocating for raising “white racial consciousness.”)
And rather accept valid criticism about how tone-deaf his messaging was, West lashed out at Vogue stylist and fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson on Instagram after she had diplomatically expressed her thoughts, saying while West had tried to “illustrate a dystopian world in the future when whiteness might become extinct” it ultimately was an “incredibly irresponsible and dangerous act.”
Instead, he proclaimed that “everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam. Now its [sic] over. You’re welcome,” before accusing French billionaire Bernard Arnault, the CEO of fashion group LVMH, for being responsible for the death of Virgil Abloh.
West’s targeting of Karefa-Johnson and Abloh sparked harsh critiques from Gigi Hadid, who called West a “bully,” Vogue photographer who called his attack on Karefa-Johnson “corny AF,” and Supreme creative director Tremaine Emory, who labeled West “an insecure narcissist that’s dying for validation from the fashion world.”
Good for her. This jackasses self-obsessed stunts deserve all the criticism they can get.
Gigi Calls Kanye A ‘Bully’ After He Lashed Out At Journalists For Critiquing His ‘Dangerous’ Fashion Show
Online beef. Gigi Hadid called out Kanye West on Instagram. The model commented on the DONDA artist’s Instagram after he called out a journalist who criticized his “White Lives Matter” themed clothing.
Gabriella Karefa-Johnson , a stylist and global Vogue contributing editor, claimed that Kanye’s message of “White Lives Matter” during his Paris Fashion Show was “dangerous.” In an Instagram story, she said, “I guess I get what he tried to do— he thought it was duchampian. It wasn’t. It didn’t land and it was deeply offensive, violent and dangerous. Kanye responded to her story through cryptic Instagram posts by saying that Karefa-Johnson “is not a fashion writer” and proceeded to say “You speak on Ye Ima speak on you Ask Trevor Noah.”
In a screenshot of a conversation with his friend Mowalola that he posted on Instagram, Mowalola told the “Heartless” rapper that he “shouldn’t insult the writer” and that he “could actually have a conversation about the tee.” On his Instagram post , Gigi commented, “You wish u had a percentage of her intellect. You have no idea haha…. If there’s actually a point to any of your shit she might be the only person that could save u.” She continued defending her close friend and collaborator, “As if the “honor” of being invited to your show should keep someone from giving their opinion ..? Lol. You’re a bully and a joke.”
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Kanye continually used Instagram as a platform to call out people who are close to him. About a month ago, Ye posted multiple screenshots of a conversation on Instagram presumably with Kim about their kids: North, 8, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3. Kanye argued that their kids should go to his new Donda Academy, but the person asked him to “stop.” Kanye replied, “No, we need to talk in person, you don’t have a say so of where the kids go to school. Why you get say say? Cause you half white?” The conversation continued and the person relayed a message from Kris where she said, “Tell him to please stop mentioning my name. “I’m almost 67 years old and I don’t always feel great and this stresses me to no end.”
In 2018, Ye first shared that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his album, Ye . He described to David Letterman during an interview in 2019 how his mental health, particularly a manic episode, influences his behavior. “When you’re in this state, you’re hyper-paranoid about everything, everyone,” Ye said. “This is my experience, other people have different experiences. Everyone now is an actor. Everything’s a conspiracy. You feel the government is putting chips in your head. You feel you’re being recorded. You feel all these things.” He added that not taking his medication regularly can lead to “erratic” actions. “If you don’t take medication every day to keep you at a certain state, you have a potential to ramp up and it can take you to a point where you can even end up in the hospital. And you start acting erratic, as TMZ would put it,” he said, referencing the tabloid news outlet where he made an impromptu visit in 2018.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264). In an emergency, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or call 911.
'Vogue' Releases Statement of Support for Editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson
Since Ye's posts, readers have been urging the magazine to stand for their employee in solidarity and the rapper out at long last. The time for that has come, as the publication just released a statement confirming their stance, and suggesting that Karefa-Johnson has since had a "private meeting with Ye" to discuss matters further.
The statement read "Vogue stands with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, our global fashion editor at large and longtime contributor. She was personally targeted and bullied. It is unacceptable. Now more than ever, voices like hers are needed and in a private meeting with Ye today she once again spoke her truth in a way she felt best, on her terms."
The hope is that Ye and Karefa-Johnson came to an understanding that'll hopefully mean no more bullying. But we'll stay tuned.
Diddy Says Kanye West’s ‘White Lives Matter’ Antics Go Beyond Fashion: ‘It’s Not A Joke’
Kanye West ’s supporters have stood with the rapper through near-constant storms of controversy and problematic behavior — from relentless taunting of his ex-wife to calling slavery a choice and everything in between. Needless to say, they’ve learned how to pick their battles. But after West debuted a longsleeved “White Lives Matter” shirt during a showcase for his new Yeezy line at a YZY SZN 9 presentation in Paris, his friends in the fashion world have sided against him . Now, even Sean “ Diddy ” Combs has decided this is a fight he’s willing to speak up about — because it goes far beyond fashion.
“I am not about to be addressing every last thing that’s going on in the world on the internet, but the thing I do have to address is this ‘white lives matter’ t-shirt,” Diddy said in a recent Instagram video. “I’ve always been there, and I will always support my brother Kanye as a freethinker. But the ‘white lives matter’ t-shirt, I don’t rock with it, you know what I’m saying? I’m not with it.”
“Right now, all America has planned for us is poverty, incarceration, and death,” Diddy added. “So before I can get to any other lives matter – which all lives matter – but that Black Lives Matter, don’t play with it. Don’t wear the shirt. Don’t buy the shirt. Don’t play with the shirt. It’s not a joke.”
This had been weighing on his mind for a few days, having shared during his Breakfast Club appearance that he needed time to “get over this t-shirt.” He added: “Because right now, we’re the ones that are dying. There really ain’t no time for no other lives matter right now but the tribe. You have to be unapologetically Black and love your people and love your tribe first.”
Aside from the fashion perspective (Diddy previously released his own clothing line under the Sean John brand), Diddy and West go way back. In June, West made a surprise appearance at the BET Awards to pay tribute to Diddy, who was taking home the Lifetime Achievement Award, calling him his “favorite artist” and crediting him with having inspired “so many” of his life choices.
Despite the wave of criticism he’s received, West doubled down on his decision to debut the offensive t-shirt. Just last night, he seemingly bragged that his shirt got the most press out of any fashion week event. “Nothing happened but my t-shirt,” he wrote. “Remember my one t-shirt took allllll the attention.”
One thing he has yet to address, though? Accusations from emerging designers claiming that after they met with Kanye and his team, their work was lifted without their knowledge.