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On Monday, rapper Kanye West said he was set to acquire social media platform Parler. After recently making antisemitic comments on Twitter and Instagram, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has shared its concerns that his popularity might bring more users to Parler, which is favored by those on the far-right.
After being restricted from his Twitter and Instagram accounts for tweeting last week that he was going to go "death con 3" on Jewish people, as well as several other insensitive comments, West—who legally changed his name to Ye last year—said in a statement on Monday, "In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves."
The 45-year-old rapper's plans to buy the platform were confirmed when parent company Parlement Technologies said West was "taking a bold stance against his recent censorship from Big Tech."
The CEO of the ADL, Jonathan Greenblatt, told Newsweek on Thursday that there is cause for concern regarding West's decision.
"Parler to date is a failing app, even among the hateful and extremist friendly platforms that purport to provide an alternative to traditional social media. However, Ye's popularity among far-right communities poses a concern if he draws more users to the largely unmoderated platform," Greenblatt said.
Parler grew in popularity throughout 2020, with supporters of former President Donald Trump flocking to the social media site during and after the election. But after the January 6 Capitol riot, which saw hundreds of Trump supporters violently storm the U.S. Capitol building in a failed effort to block President Joe Biden's electoral college victory, Parler faced criticism for allegedly allowing its users to promote violence without the posts being removed.
The social media platform was then subsequently removed from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
And despite his recent comments that were deemed antisemitic, West's follower count on social media has increased since he made the controversial remarks, and more could follow him to other sites.
"Ye's purchase of Parler alongside, Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter and Donald Trump's ownership of Truth Social, is an alarming trend," Greenblatt said. "It again shows the need for robust federal legislation reigning in the power of tech companies and prioritizing the experiences of vulnerable and marginalized communities online."
The rapper's purchasing of Parler has been compared to Musk and Trump's social media deals in many ways, as all three figures have fought against the kind of censoring that sites like Twitter have done in the past, and have offered alternatives that tout unabridged free speech.
Apart from the purchasing of Parler, the ADL has also called for Adidas to cut all ties with West, as the brand partners with the rapper's fashion brand, Yeezy.
"Fighting hate is an all hands-on-deck effort," Greenblatt said. "We believe all companies should review their relationship with Ye in light of his repeated antisemitic comments. It was important when META and Twitter banned him from their platforms after Ye incited violence and said he would go 'Death con 3' on Jews. Businesses have a role to play, and companies must be clear that antisemitism and hate have no place in our society no matter how much money is at stake."
About the writer
Emma Mayer is a Newsweek Culture Writer based in Wyoming. Her focus is reporting on celebrities, books, movies, and music. ... Read more