Rapper Kanye West has once again found himself at the center of controversy following his appearance on Justin LaBoy's "The Download" podcast. During the premiere episode, which aired on Monday, April 22, West made a shocking statement in response to a question about a potential celebrity threesome, sparking outrage among listeners and on social media platforms.
When asked by LaBoy, "Who's one other woman y'all gonna have a threesome with? You could pick anyone in the world," West laughed and declared that he would love to have sexual relations with former First Lady Michelle Obama. The rapper's answer quickly drew criticism from viewers, who flooded X (formerly Twitter) with comments condemning his "nasty" and "sickening" statement.
"The man is not medicating correctly," one user wrote, while another compared West's chaotic interviews to those of actor Orlando Brown, suggesting that both celebrities "need some medicine." Others questioned the impact of West's comments on his current wife, Bianca Censori, with one user stating, "I wouldn't be surprised if she fill [file] for divorce after hearing this."
This is not the first time West has been linked to the Obamas in a controversial manner. In 2018, the rapper appeared in an animated music video for Childish Gambino's track "Feels Like Summer," which featured West wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat while being comforted by Michelle Obama's animated version. The video was released during a period when West faced backlash for his support of then-President Donald Trump and his controversial statement that "slavery was a choice."
West's history with the Obamas dates back to the early days of Barack Obama's presidency. Following West's infamous stage-crash during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV VMAs, Obama referred to the rapper as a "jackass" during a CNBC interview. In 2013, West dismissed the Obamas' impact on fashion and style while advocating for his then-wife, Kim Kardashian, to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine.
"There's no way Kim Kardashian shouldn't be on the cover of Vogue. She's like the most intriguing woman right now," West said during a radio interview with On Air With Ryan Seacrest. "She's got Barbara Walters calling her like everyday. And collectively, we're the most influential with clothing. No one is looking at what [Barack Obama] is wearing. Michelle Obama cannot Instagram a [bikini] pic like what my girl Instagrammed the other day."
Despite their differences, Barack Obama offered West some advice in 2015 when the rapper announced his intention to run for president in the 2020 election. "Saying that you have a 'Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' - that's what's known as 'off-message' in politics," Obama said at the time. "You can't say something like that. There are a lot of people who have lost their congressional seats saying things like that."
As the fallout from West's latest controversial comments continues, it remains to be seen how the rapper will address the backlash and whether his statement will have any lasting impact on his career or personal life. The incident serves as a reminder of the power of celebrity platforms and the importance of responsible and respectful communication, especially when discussing public figures and sensitive topics.
