London, New York, Milan, and Paris. The fashion world has gone global - sending style aficionados into shopping frenzies as next year's spring and summer trends were put on full display. Thousands of models have made their debuts on the runways of Harris Reed, Tom Ford, Versace, and Louis Vuitton - and rapper Kanye West is no exception.
The father-of-four made his catwalk debut earlier this month at Paris Fashion Week, strutting through the mud on Balenciaga's dystopian-themed runway in what could only be referred to as Ready-to-War fashion. At first, fans had no clue that, underneath the oversized Balenciaga puffer jacket and baggy leather pants, it was the 'Gold Digger' rapper.
The former presidential candidate and Grammy Award winner then took to the Paris runway again, this time to present his Yzy Szn 9 fashion show.
While the acclaimed hip-hop artist is no stranger to controversy, many people were left indignant at the designer's choice of clothing - a t-shirt with 'White Lives Matter' emblazoned on the back.
Ye was joined by Candace Owens, a conservative political commentator, who was also sporting the same shirt.
Just a few weeks ago, Owens referred to Ye's ex, Kim Kardashian, as a "prostitute" when discussing the reality TV star's 2007 tape leak on her DailyWire talk show. Owens also added that her momager, Kris Jenner, was a "pimp," the Daily Mail reported.
The front of the Ye's shirt boasted an image of Pope John Paul II, along with the phrase "Seguiremos Tu Ejemplo" - meaning "We Will Follow Your Example". The White Lives Matter slogan - which is deemed a hate slogan by the Anti-Defamation League and rooted in white supremacy (it is used by the Klu Klux Klan) - sparked revulsion in many people, who saw it as "disrespectful."
Fellow rapper, Boosie BadAzz, tweeted Ye about his disgust at the incident, writing: "AFTER ALL WE BEEN THROUGH AS A RACE YOU PUT THIS DISRESPECTFUL S*** ONU GIVES NO F***S ABOUT HOW BLACKS HAVE DIED N SUFFERED TO THE HANDS OF THE WHITE MAN N U SAY BUSH DON'T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE.. [sic]."
One user commented: "Kanye West making Black models wear 'white lives matter' shirts is a culmination of his anti-blackness and his immersion in white supremacy ideologies and methods. Disgusting."
"Kanye West was on Instagram not too long ago talking about the Kardashians [were] corrupting his BLACK children… just to be wearing a White Lives Matter shirt," someone else added.
"So the guy who thought slavery was a choice and the woman who said slave owners deserve reparations more than the slaves, wore matching White Lives Matter sweatshirts. Color me surprised… Kanye West and Candace Owens make Martin Luther King Jr. roll over in his grave," a further user chimed in.
Following the runway show, Ye spoke to Vogue, where he explained the idea behind his latest collection. "There's just people. From the same planet. And sometimes, in high school, it feels like we don't fit in. And in a situation like this, we have the opportunity to come together to express who we are."
Concerns over Ye's antics have been on and off for years, as the rapper has made numerous shocking political statements and remarks - including his comment on TMZ Live that 400 years of Black slavery in the United States was "a choice," per NME.
