Conservative commentator Candace Owens has come under fire for defending Kanye West’s recent controversial remarks about Jewish people. The rapper, who now goes by Ye, made headlines with his inflammatory comments on Twitter, which many have condemned as antisemitic.
Ye, 45, tweeted over the weekend, “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.” He added, “The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti-Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.” This tweet led to his account being locked by the social media platform.
The controversy escalated when Ye was banned from Instagram for suggesting that rapper Diddy is controlled by Jewish people, a statement that perpetuates an age-old antisemitic trope. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, also suspended Ye from the platform.
Candace Owens Defends Kanye West
On her Daily Wire podcast, Candace Owens, 33, defended Ye, stating that his tweet was not antisemitic. She displayed the tweet on air and argued, “Now, if you are an honest person, you did not think this tweet was antisemitic.”
Owens expressed confusion over the tweet, saying, “You did not think that he wrote this tweet because he hates or wants to genocide Jewish people. This does not represent the beginning of a Holocaust. That’s if you’re an honest person, you’ll admit that, right?”
She further questioned the meaning of “death con 3,” speculating that Ye might have meant “DEFCON 3,” a term used by the U.S. military to indicate a state of readiness. “Did he mean defcon 3, which would be a military-defense position?” Owens asked. “Not an offense, for those of you that are offended, a military-defense position.”
Jewish Groups Condemn Owens and West
Jewish organizations have strongly condemned both Owens and Ye for their remarks. Jack Rosen, president of the American Jewish Congress, told Newsweek, “Candace Owens – nor anyone else – cannot tell Jews what is antisemitic and what is not.”
Rosen emphasized that Ye’s words could incite violence, stating, “We know that Kanye West does not want another genocide for the Jewish people. However, words carry consequences, and his words could potentially incite violence.”
Mitchell Bard, executive director of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE), also criticized Ye’s comments. “When you seem to threaten Jews, that is not an innocent remark,” Bard said. “Would Owens consider the remark equally innocuous if ‘Jew’ was replaced with Christian, gay, Black or any other religion, race or ethnicity?”
Political and Social Repercussions
The controversy has political implications as well. Halie Soifer, CEO of The Jewish Democratic Council of America, stated, “Kanye West’s comments, which echo some of the darkest and oldest conspiracy theories about Jews, are deeply antisemitic and dangerous.”
Soifer added, “It’s incumbent on public figures to condemn this antisemitism, as opposed to giving it a platform, as was done by Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson.”
The incident has also highlighted the broader issue of political extremism. “One month before the midterm elections, it’s essential that we reject political extremism, including among the GOP,” Soifer noted.
Kanye West’s Rightward Drift
Ye’s shift towards right-wing politics began as early as 2018, when he publicly praised Donald Trump and Candace Owens. He has since made several controversial statements, including blaming Black people for their centuries of enslavement.
In 2020, Ye launched a presidential campaign, advocating for principles associated with Christian democracy. Although his platform was not explicitly far-right, it included opposition to abortion rights.
By late 2022, Ye had fully embraced a politics of antisemitism and extremism. At a fashion show in Paris, he appeared alongside Owens, both wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “WHITE LIVES MATTER,” a slogan popular among white supremacists.
Conservatives Praise Kanye, Erase His Antisemitism
Despite his controversial remarks, Ye has been celebrated by some conservatives. The official Twitter account of GOP House Judiciary Committee members tweeted, “Kanye. Elon. Trump,” a post that remained online for weeks.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson also defended Ye, reducing criticisms of him to questions of mental health. However, parts of the interview that were edited out showed Ye making bizarre and antisemitic claims.
Ye’s antisemitism escalated in October, leading to his accounts being locked on both Instagram and Twitter. Despite this, some platforms and media outlets continued to give him a platform.
Kanye’s Antisemitism Escalates
Ye’s public expressions of antisemitism became more vociferous as October wore on. He appeared on several podcasts, reiterating hate speech and dangerous stereotypes.
On Oct. 22, the neo-Nazi Goyim Defense League hung a banner in Los Angeles that read, “Kanye is right about the Jews,” capitalizing on Ye’s remarks.
Media reports indicated that Ye had a long history of expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler, further fueling the controversy.
Kanye Platformed and Embraced by the Far Right
In November, Ye dined at Mar-a-Lago with Donald Trump, bringing along Nick Fuentes and Milo Yiannopoulos. The dinner brought renewed criticism for Trump.
Despite Ye’s public antisemitic agitation, he continued to be invited to appear on right-wing platforms, including Tim Pool’s YouTube channel.
During these appearances, Ye’s antisemitic beliefs were broadcast to a worldwide audience, with platforms like YouTube profiting from the spectacle.
FAQs
1. What did Kanye West tweet that caused controversy?
Ye tweeted, “I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” which many condemned as antisemitic.
2. How did Candace Owens defend Kanye West?
Owens argued that Ye’s tweet was not antisemitic and that it did not represent the beginning of a Holocaust.
3. What was the reaction from Jewish groups?
Jewish organizations condemned both Owens and Ye, stating that his words could incite violence and perpetuate dangerous stereotypes.
4. How has Kanye West’s political stance evolved?
Ye’s shift towards right-wing politics began in 2018, and by late 2022, he had fully embraced a politics of antisemitism and extremism.
5. What platforms have given Kanye West a platform despite his antisemitic remarks?
Platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and right-wing media outlets have continued to give Ye a platform, allowing him to spread his antisemitic beliefs.
