Hitler-glorifying track by Kanye West played countless times by listeners
Take a gripping dive into the glaring controversy surrounding American rapper Kanye West's provocative track, "Heil Hitler," boasting millions of plays on Elon Musk's groundbreaking socialmedia platform, X.
Once a twice-Grammy-winning powerhouse, the rebranded "Ye" has been a hotbed of antisemitic remarks and Nazi sympathies in recent years, gaining notoriety in the process.
Released on X on May 8, the song's music video, published on the anniversary of World War II's end, amassed nearly 10 million views as of Saturday. The clip features an ensemble of African American actors donning animal hides, belting out the song's chorus, which glorifies Adolf Hitler, architect of the Holocaust, claiming the lives of six million Jews between 1933 and 1945. The track concludes with a chilling address by the Nazi dictator himself.
Despite the worldwide condemnation, the video continues to thrive on X, a platform that has opted to leave the controversial content intact. Major streaming platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music have removed the song citing its deplorable themes.
Meanwhile, other social media platforms such as Reddit have declared their stance against the song, with a spokesperson asserting, "Hate and antisemitism have no place on Reddit."
Elon Musk and Free Speech Debate
As Musk stakes his ground as a self-proclaimed champion of free speech, critics allege he principally champions his own political ideologies. The tech magnate, known for his close alliance with Donald Trump during the 2024 US presidential campaign, reciprocated with a whopping $277 million donation to support Trump's campaign and the Republican party.
X did not immediately respond to AFP's queries on the matter.
Antisemitic Remarks and Swastika T-shirts
In February, Kanye West announced his departure from X, with his account mysteriously vanishing for a brief period, the reasons unclear - whether it was due to a ban or West's self-deactivation. Prior to his disappearance, West had shared antisemitic messages, such as expressing adoration for Hitler, and endorsed fellow rapper Sean Combs, who faces a court trial in New York regarding a large-scale human trafficking case.
Moreover, West's Yeezy fashion brand's website was taken offline by host Shopify in February, following the brand's launch of white t-shirts brandishing swastikas.
Late in 2022, West, who publicly acknowledges his bipolar disorder, made a series of antisemitic comments.
His Twitter account was suspended briefly for inciting violence, after he uploaded an image merging a swastika with a Star of David. The account was later reinstated by X, post Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform.
In the midst of this whirlwind, Adidas ended its collaboration with West, a highly successful partnership within the fashion world.
In the midst of the controversy surrounding Kanye West's "Heil Hitler" song, platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music have removed the track due to its deplorable themes, while Elon Musk's X platform continues to host the content, sparking a debate about free speech and political ideologies. Meanwhile, Kanye West's antisemitic remarks and endorsements, such as promoting fellow rapper Sean Combs in a large-scale human trafficking case and launching swastika-emblazoned Yeezy t-shirts, have landed him in hot water, leading Adidas to end its collaboration with him.
