Kanye West has appeared to respond to backlash over his controversial Paris Fashion Week look.
The rapper and fashion designer - who has legally changed his name to 'Ye' - was pictured wearing a shirt with the phrase 'White Lives Matter' emblazoned across the back during the reveal of his fashion label's latest collection last night (October 3).
West was pictured wearing the shirt during the live stream of the Yeezy show during Paris Fashion Week. In one snap, he stood beside Black conservative commentator Candace Owens, who wore a matching shirt with the same phrase on it.
'White Lives Matter' is widely considered to be an appropriation of the 'Black Lives Matter' slogan used to protest racial injustice, discrimination, and police brutality. Often used by white supremacists and far-right organizations, the phrase is categorized by the Anti-Defamation League as a hate slogan.
Unsurprisingly, West's choice of shirt prompted instant backlash across social media and beyond, with social media users branding the shirt "disgusting" and disrespectful".
However, in the wake of the controversy, the rapper has doubled down on his controversial views.
"Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam," he wrote on his Instagram Story earlier today (October 4).
"Now it’s over…you’re welcome," the rapper added.
Many Black artists were among those quick to condemn the 'Stronger' hitmaker for endorsing 'White Lives Matter'. Jaden Smith shared a string of tweets explaining that he "had to" leave the Yeezy show, adding: "I Don’t Care Who’s It Is If I Don’t Feel The Message I’m Out."
Meanwhile, in a now-deleted tweet, rapper Boosie slammed West, writing: "AFTER ALL WE BEEN THROUGH AS A RACE YOU PUT THIS DISRESPECTFUL S*** ON. U GIVES NO F***S ABOUT HOW BLACKS HAVE DIED N SUFFERED TO THE HANDS OF THE WHITE MAN."
This is not the first time the Yeezy founder has stoked controversy with his views on race and politics. In 2018, he publically gave his support to President Donald Trump, stepping out in a 'Make America Great Again' cap on more than one occasion.
That same year, the rapper made controversial comments about America's history of slavery to TMZ, saying: "When you hear about slavery for 400 years… for 400 years? That sounds like a choice."
.jpg_gqgERZ?tr=h-40&config=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)
.jpg_gqgERZ?tr=h-184&config=JTdCJTIybmFtZSUyMiUzQSUyMmxhbmElMjAoMSkuanBnJTIyJTJDJTIyZGVzY3JpcHRpb24lMjIlM0ElMjJGZWF0dXJlZCUyMGltYWdlJTIwY3JlZGl0JTNBJTIwRXRoYW4lMjBNaWxsZXIlMjAlMkYlMjBHZXR0eSUyMCUyMiUyQyUyMmFsdGVybmF0aXZlX3RleHQlMjIlM0ElMjJsYW5hJTIwKDEpLmpwZyUyMiUyQyUyMmNhcHRpb24lMjIlM0ElMjJMYW5hJTIwUmhvYWRlcyUyMiUyQyUyMmNvb3JkaW5hdGVzJTIyJTNBJTdCJTIyZGVza3RvcCUyMiUzQSU3QiUyMmxlZnQlMjIlM0EwJTJDJTIydG9wJTIyJTNBMCUyQyUyMnJpZ2h0JTIyJTNBMSUyQyUyMmJvdHRvbSUyMiUzQTAuNTIlN0QlMkMlMjJ0YWJsZXQlMjIlM0ElN0IlMjJsZWZ0JTIyJTNBbnVsbCUyQyUyMnRvcCUyMiUzQW51bGwlMkMlMjJyaWdodCUyMiUzQW51bGwlMkMlMjJib3R0b20lMjIlM0FudWxsJTdEJTJDJTIybW9iaWxlJTIyJTNBJTdCJTIybGVmdCUyMiUzQW51bGwlMkMlMjJ0b3AlMjIlM0FudWxsJTJDJTIycmlnaHQlMjIlM0FudWxsJTJDJTIyYm90dG9tJTIyJTNBbnVsbCU3RCU3RCUyQyUyMndpZHRoJTIyJTNBMTUzNSUyQyUyMmhlaWdodCUyMiUzQTgwMCU3RA==)