Kanye West sparked controversy once again with a series of antisemitic remarks and an impassioned defense of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is currently awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. In a string of posts on X, formerly Twitter, West called for Combs' release and reiterated offensive rhetoric that has previously cost him major business deals and social media access.
West, 47, wrote that discussing antisemitic leaders should be "normalized" and declared, he's "never apologizing," in a now-deleted post. He also referred to X owner Elon Musk's past gestures as having "stolen his Nazi swag," an apparent reference to Musk's controversial one-armed salute at an event. Musk previously dismissed accusations of Nazi symbolism, stating, "The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
The rapper's posts follow his announcement of a new album, Bully, which he said was inspired by his nine-year-old son, Saint. West recently attended the 2025 Grammy Awards, making his first appearance at the event in a decade. He arrived on the red carpet with his wife, Bianca Censori, whose sheer, nearly-nude outfit attracted widespread attention. Despite speculation that the couple was removed from the venue, PEOPLE confirmed they were not asked to leave.
West also repeated his infamous claim that "slavery is a choice," a remark that has drawn sharp criticism in the past. "They tryna prove a point and y'all F***ING know that," he wrote, defending Combs, 55, who remains in federal custody after being denied bail. "This man gave his life to us. This my idol. This my hero."
Combs, who was indicted in September on multiple charges including sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to begin in May. West's vocal support comes as the embattled hip-hop mogul faces mounting legal troubles, with multiple civil lawsuits alleging physical and psychological abuse.
The posts reignited concerns over West's repeated use of antisemitic rhetoric. In 2022, the rapper faced backlash for stating he was going "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE." His inflammatory remarks led to the termination of lucrative brand partnerships with Adidas, Balenciaga, and Gap. Adidas, in a statement, condemned his statements as "unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous," adding that they violate the company's values.
West's history of antisemitic comments has been corroborated by former Adidas employees, one of whom alleged he praised Hitler and Nazis in business meetings. West settled with the employee in November 2022. Other former associates have claimed he frequently promoted conspiracy theories about Jewish people and admired Hitler's leadership style.
His recent social media tirade has drawn backlash from both the public and fellow celebrities. Don Lemon, speaking in New Orleans, dismissed West's comments as a desperate bid for attention. "Just let the trial happen," Lemon said, arguing that prosecutors have far more knowledge about Combs' case than West does.
