Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, said Thursday he’s lost billions as brands have cut ties with him over his antisemitic remarks.
“Ari Emanuel. I lost 2 billion dollars in one day. And I’m still alive,” he posted on Instagram early Thursday. “This is love speech. I still love you. God still loves you. The money is not who I am. The people is who I am.”
More than 1.1 million followers liked the post, which was addressing Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, after the agent said companies should stop doing business with West in an OpEd in the Financial Times last week.
West also posted a meme that said, “Ye has reportedly cut ties with Kanye West,” with a comment, “Had to cut ties bro.” It garnered nearly 2 million likes.
A third post carried a meme that said, “Curtis Jackson has reportedly cut ties with 50 Cent,” where Ye commented, “We got Donda school designs we need to build with 50 in Houston.”
Donda Academy is the Christian prep school Ye recently launched, which reportedly closed on Thursday morning as the backlash continued.
West’s losses could not be independently confirmed, but the rapper has faced widespread backlash after multiple comments, including posts like calling for “death con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE,” in posts that got him suspended from Instagram and Twitter. He apparently deleted all previous posts when he returned to Instagram, where only four posts are showing: a photo posted three weeks ago and his three posts from the early morning hours Thursday.
West has been dropped by talent powerhouse CAA and fashion house Balenciaga ditched their collaboration.
Earlier this week, Adidas axed its longstanding relationship with West’s fashion line, forecasting a nearly $250 million hit to its own net income this year from the decision. The move came after the German sportswear company had earlier put their seven-year partnership under “review.”
“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech,” the company said in announcing the breakup. “Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”
The Gap also pulled its Yeezy Gap line and shuttered the YeezyGap.com website. Gap previously announced it would end a 10-year partnership signed two years ago.
In addition, MRC canceled its “Ye” documentary amid the outcry, despite completing production.
Netflix, however, told The Wrap the “Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy” docs will remain on the streaming service. The three-film series feature West as the subject matter, but he was not involved in their creation or promotion.
Along with his anti-Semitic remarks, West said that George Floyd wasn’t murdered by police officers but rather died from fentanyl use, which has prompted a $250 million lawsuit from the surviving family members.
