Kanye West has sparked controversy once again, defending Sean “Diddy” Combs in a series of antisemitic comments and slurs shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, February 6.
The 47-year-old rapper, known for his controversial statements, argued that discussing antisemitic leaders should be “normalized.” He also said he would “never apologize” for his remarks. In a now-deleted post, West called for the release of Diddy, 55, who is currently incarcerated while awaiting trial on charges of federal sex crimes. Diddy, who was indicted in September on accusations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting people for prostitution, has denied the charges, and his trial is set to begin in May.
In his posts, West criticized X owner Elon Musk, claiming that Musk had “stolen” his “Nazi swag” following a controversial one-armed salute at an event. Musk responded, dismissing the accusations, stating that the “everyone is Hitler” claim is “so tired.” West also made the offensive claim that antisemitism is “just some bulls— Jewish people made up.”
West also used the platform to defend his wife, Bianca Censori, after she received attention for wearing a sheer, nearly-nude dress to the 2025 Grammy Awards. This marked West’s first appearance at the event in 10 years, where he was nominated for Best Rap Song for “Carnival” from his Vultures 1 album.
West’s statements come after he announced a new album titled Bully, inspired by his 9-year-old son, Saint. His red carpet appearance with Censori drew significant media attention, but PEOPLE confirmed the couple was not removed from the event despite online rumors.
This outburst is the latest in a pattern of hate speech from West. In October 2022, he made antisemitic posts, including a threat to go “death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” which led to the loss of several major brand partnerships. Companies like Adidas, Balenciaga, and Gap cut ties with West following his hateful remarks, with Adidas citing their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect.
West was also banned from X and faced restrictions on Instagram for his offensive rhetoric. Furthermore, allegations surfaced from a former Adidas employee who claimed West praised Hitler and Nazis in business meetings, though West denied these accusations. In November 2022, West settled a lawsuit with the employee for an undisclosed amount.
West’s most recent comments have reignited public scrutiny, continuing the ongoing controversy surrounding the artist’s behavior and statements.
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