Jaden Smith Demands 'Progressive Future' After Ye's 'White Lives Matter'

Jaden Smith revealed he walked out of Kanye West's surprise Paris fashion week show on Monday due to the controversial star wearing a shirt that read "White Lives Matter."

West, who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021, made an unannounced appearance at his Yeezy Season 9 collection, and his choice of attire has attracted much attention. His shirt not only featured a "White Lives Matter" message on the back but also a photo of Pope John Paul II on the front. West also brought well-known rightwing commentator Candace Owens as a guest to the show, who wore her own "White Lives Matter" shirt.

Smith, also known mononymously as Jaden, is a musician and actor, as well as the son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. He wrote on Twitter that he left West's show, stating "I had to dip."

"I don't care who it is if I don't feel the message I'm out," Smith tweeted later, adding: "We Demand A More Progressive Future."

Smith posted several other messages on Twitter about the incident. In a post that he later deleted Smith said, "I can't stand behind what Kanye's saying, he does not have the full support of the youth."

"True Leaders Lead," read another tweet. Smith also posted: "Black Lives Matter."

Owens shared pics of her and West wearing the shirts on her official Twitter account. Her appearance in Paris came only days after she criticized West's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, in a segment on her Candace Owens Podcast.

In the episode about Kardashian, Owens argued Instagram should remove the reality star's account after it had removed an account for a pornography company.

West later addressed the controversy over his shirt on his Instagram account. He wrote, "Everyone knows Black Lives Matter was a scam. Now it's over. You're welcome."

West also seemingly responded to criticism from global Vogue contributing editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who called his choice to wear the shirt "pure violence" on her Instagram account.

After Karefa-Johnson's post, West shared a screenshot of on his Instagram with a caption that read: "Broke the processor When the computer can't read the code This is a droid."

The incident in Paris comes after years of criticism West has faced for endorsing conservative causes. The rap star once publicly supported former President Donald Trump, wearing a "Make American Great Again" cap in public and even visiting Trump at the White House.

West later ran for president himself in 2020, though his campaign fizzled out quickly. However, he said during an ABC News interview in September that he still has political aspirations.

Newsweek reached out to Smith and West for comment.