'Everyone knows Black Lives Matter was a scam': Kanye West dismisses movement in scathing post after wearing 'White Lives Matter' top at Paris Fashion Week show
- The rapper and designer slammed the movement on Instagram, where he commands more than 17 million followers
- West appeared to be reinforcing a lack of faith in the movement, which has developed a reputation for staging mass street protests
- Black Lives Matter gained global attention after playing a key role in the riots that followed George Floyd's death
- The organisation was founded in 2013 following the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman
Kanye West dismissed Black Lives Matter Tuesday.
The rapper and designer slammed the global movement on Instagram, where he commands more than 17million followers, after wearing a 'White Lives Matter' sweater at his surprise Yeezy fashion show in Paris on Monday evening.
Opting for white upper-case lettering on a stark black background and addressing followers in past tense, West, 43, wrote: '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 riots around the world.
Kanye West on Tuesday dismissing Black Lives Matter
Founded in 2013 following the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in the United States, Black Lives Matter gained global attention after playing a key role in the riots that followed George Floyd's death in 2020.
West surprised fans by making light of it on Monday evening.
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 message.
He was joined by conservative commentator Candace Owens, who beamed while wearing a complementary version of West's sweater.
The rapper and designer slammed BLM on Instagram after wearing a 'White Lives Matter' sweater at his surprise Yeezy fashion show in Paris on Monday
The move appeared to be another example of West's distancing himself from leftist black politics.
He has aligned himself with conservative figures such as Owens, as well as former President Donald Trump, and has regularly sported a red Make America Great Again cap in public.
West said ‘You can’t manage me.’
Palling around: Also posing with West was the conservative commentator Candace Owens, who beamed while wearing a complementary version of the 'White Lives Matter' shirt
In April 2018, he tweeted: 'I love the way Candace Owens thinks.'
In 2018, West appeared during a performance on Saturday Night Live sporting a Make America Great Again hat
Donald Trump meets with rapper Kanye West in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, October 11, 2018
West in 2013 was pictured wearing a jacket with a Southern Battle flag on the sleeve
In April 2018, West tweeted: 'I love the way Candace Owens thinks'
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.
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.
Selah posted 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.'
Bob Marley's granddaughter was among those who modeled West's new design in Paris
Selah posted photos showing her joking with West while sporting the White Lives Matter shirt
The front of West's 'White Lives Matter' shirt appeared to show photo of Pope John Paul II
Historic figure: The bottom caption referred to him in Spanish as 'Juan Pablo.'
Owens has previously been critical of the NAACP, the Black Lives Matter movement, and has claimed that white supremacy is not a pressing issue in society.
Dedication: Fans waiting to see West waited outside for hours in chilly conditions to see him
‘I am Ye, and everyone here knows that I am the leader,’ West, 43, said at the event while referencing his new legal name, adding: ‘You can’t manage me'
West recently shared photos of models, actresses and singers
Naomi Campbell, Michèle Lamy and Amelia Hamlin walked the runway.
Photos from the show showed some of the models wearing 'White Lives Matter' shirts.
Big names: Naomi Campbell and Amelia Hamlin walked the show
Behind the scenes: Irina Shayk was present but didn't walk
Joining him: Photos from the show show some of the models wearing 'White Lives Matter' shirts
Exes: Irina Shayk, who briefly dated West after his split from Kim Kardashian, shared congratulations 'on another epic YZY collection' with a short Insta Stories video of him speaking
West expressed his determination to make YZY an inclusive 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.
Available to all: West said in a new interview with Vogue Business before the show that he wants YZY to be an affordable company; seen on Saturday at the Givenchy show in Paris
Fashionable arrival: Supermodel Irina Shayk donned a pair of over-the-knee heeled boots and and jean flannel to attend the Kanye West aka Ye Womenswear Spring/Summer show
A look into Black Lives Matter's recent controversies
Throughout 2020, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation raised $90 million from its supporters. In a recent tax filing, more than half of that funding was given to other organizations or spent on consultants and real estate.
The foundation is currently left with $42 million in assets.
Recent backlash over the movement's use of funding for real estate has led many to question how it plans to move forward and whether funding is actually given to other social justice organizations.
Co-founder resigns after $3 million housing portfolio was revealed
Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors stepped down in 2021 as executive director of the organization amid controversy over her $3 million property portfolio.
Cullors faced fierce backlash over revelations about her personal spending - including the recent purchase of a $1.4 million home in a ritzy L.A. neighborhood.
It caused many to question what percentage of BLM donations were actually going toward social justice programs.
'As a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, (the foundation) cannot and did not commit any organizational resources toward the purchase of personal property by any employee or volunteer,' the foundation said in a statement.
Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors stepped down as executive director of the organization amid controversy over her $3 million property portfolio
The $26,000 spent on a Malibu resort
In addition to Cullors' portfolio, it was also revealed that a jail reform activist group founded by Cullors spent $26,000 for meetings and 'appearances' at a luxury Malibu resort.
Reform LA Jails paid $10,179 for 'meetings and appearances' at the Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club, and a further $15,593 at the Malibu Conference Center, which is owned by the resort, between July and September 2019.
A single night in a two-bedroom 'cozy ranch chic' suite in July costs $1,200, and guests at the 200-acre resort have access to a private five acre beach on the Malibu coast.
A $6 million California 'escape house'
New York Magazine reported in 2022 a $6 million California home which was purchased in 2020 with BLM funding.
The filing listed the home as an 'artist retreat.'
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