Over the weekend, Kanye West appeared on Saturday Night Live, and delivered a rambling pro-Trump speech that got booed by the studio audience. The rant didn't air on TV, because the feed was cut. No, conspiracy theorists, not because of political reasons - the show was over. This happened after the closing credits. Anyway, the footage immediately leaked online, thanks to Chris Rock (recording from the audience) and producer Mike Dean (recording from the green room).
In the rant, Kanye referred to his red MAGA hat as a "Superman cape" and accused the cast members of bullying him for it backstage. Then he defended Donald Trump from accusations of racism, and claimed the "Democratic plan" is to "take the fathers out the homes and promote welfare." (Which got a loud clap from one audience member.) "Follow your heart and stop following your mind," Kanye implored the crowd. "That’s how we’re controlled. That how we’re programmed. If you want the world to move forward, try love."
It's not clear how long Yeezy ranted, exactly, but this morning he continued his diatriabe - I mean, dialogue - on Twitter. He shared a selfie, proudly wearing his Make America Great Again hat from inside an airplane. "this represents good and America becoming whole again," he tweeted. "We will no longer outsource to other countries. We build factories here in America and create jobs. We will provide jobs for all who are free from prisons as we abolish the 13th amendment. Message sent with love."
The message was "sent with love," but not coherence. Many people were confused, and outraged, but mostly confused, about Ye's desire to "abolish" the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery. In a subsequent tweet, Ye double-downed on his argument, "the 13th Amendment is slavery in disguise meaning it never ended." To which other Twitter users said, "Wait, what?"
Well, apparently Kanye stumbled onto a real debate. The 13th amendment reads, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Some historians contend that it allows a loophole for slavery to be allowed, as a form of punishment.
Yeezy's poorly explained argument got a backlash from figures such as NAACP president Cornell Brooks and Captain America himself, Chris Evans. Evans has gotten into politics before on social media, explaining how men can be ally for the #MeToo movement, and slamming Fox News for attacking a teenage survivor from the Parkland school shooting.
Chris tweeted, "There’s nothing more maddening than debating someone who doesn’t know history, doesn’t read books, and frames their myopia as virtue. The level of unapologetic conjecture I’ve encountered lately isn’t just frustrating, it’s retrogressive, unprecedented and absolutely terrifying." (In the past, Kanye has described himself as a "proud non-reader of books.")
In yet another tweet, and an interview on TMZ, Kanye tried to clarify his remarks. He claimed he used the wrong word; rather than "abolishing" the 13th amendment, he thinks we should "amend" it. (And if you're not sure what Kanye means, just follow his advice, and stop following your mind; follow your heart!)
Just a month ago, Kanye apologized for his claim that 400 years of slavery "sounded like a choice," and now he appears to have stepped in it again. Well, Captain America might have lost to Thanos, but at least he defeated Yeezus.
