It takes so much out of me to cover Kanye West. He is, at best, a giant time suck and a man with mental illness being exploited by media outlets when they merely transcribe his rantings without any context. At worst, Kanye is a dangerously ill man who is trying to hurt himself and his country through his willful ignorance. So, Kanye has a new interview with Forbes. This was how the Forbes piece started:
Kanye West’s Fourth of July declaration, via Tweet, that he was running for president lit the internet on fire, even as pundits were trying to discern how serious he was. Over the course of four rambling hours of interviews on Tuesday, the billionaire rapper turned sneaker mogul revealed:
That he’s running for president in 2020 under a new banner—the Birthday Party—with guidance from Elon Musk and an obscure vice presidential candidate he’s already chosen. “Like anything I’ve ever done in my life,” says West, “I’m doing to win.”
That he no longer supports President Trump. “I am taking the red hat off, with this interview.”
That he’s ok with siphoning off Black votes from the Democratic nominee, thus helping Trump. “I’m not denying it, I just told you. To say that the Black vote is Democratic is a form of racism and white supremacy.”
That he’s never voted in his life.
That he was sick with Covid-19 in February.
That he’s suspicious of a coronavirus vaccine, terming vaccines “the mark of the beast.”
That he believes “Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil’s work.”
That he envisions a White House organizational model based on the secret country of Wakanda in Black Panther.
I’m out. Please don’t make me actually read past this. Please. What’s that? It’s my job? UGH. I will give this five more minutes and then I’m out.
On his presidential candidacy: At that point, he says, he’d miss the filing deadline for most states, though he believes an argument could be made to get onto any ballots he’s missed, citing coronavirus issues. “I’m speaking with experts, I’m going to speak with Jared Kushner, the White House, with Biden,” says West. He has no campaign apparatus of any kind. His advisors right now, he says, are the two people who notably endorsed him on the Fourth: his wife Kim Kardashian-West, and Elon Musk, of whom he says, “We’ve been talking about this for years.” (Adds West: “I proposed to him to be the head of our space program.”)
He lost respect for Trump when Trump hid in the bunker: A few weeks after he ended two separate text chains with me with the message “Trump 2020” and a fist raised high, he insists he’s lost confidence in the president. “It looks like one big mess to me,” he says. “I don’t like that I caught wind that he hid in the bunker.” West also says that he contracted the coronavirus in late February, though he maintains that had nothing to do with his thoughts on running this year.
Joe Biden isn’t special: That said, he won’t say much more against Trump. He’s much less shy about criticizing Biden, which certainly won’t tamp down the idea that the Birthday Party is a ruse to help re-elect Trump. “I’m not saying Trump’s in my way, he may be a part of my way. And Joe Biden? Like come on man, please. You know? Obama’s special. Trump’s special. We say Kanye West is special. America needs special people that lead. Bill Clinton? Special. Joe Biden’s not special.”
Nope. I’m not reading anymore of this mess. This isn’t cute. This isn’t a joke. This isn’t some next-level scheme. It’s just a man with a profound mental illness who thinks his every word and idea is brilliant. I can’t.
Photos courtesy of social media, Avalon Red.
He is supporting Trump by siphoning votes from Biden.
Interesting. Why would you think that? His unfavorable rating is higher among people who identify as Democrats than it is among people who identify as Republicans. A lot of right-wing sites seem to think because he’s black he’ll get black support, but that’s just garden variety racism and it’s easy to look around and see that’s not the case.
Also I’m quite tired of seeing that he’s “officially” declared. He’s missed the deadline to get on the ballot as an independent in quite a few states and hasn’t bothered to file paperwork in the rest. It’s about as meaningful as saying he’s “officially” declared himself President.
@baseb
I think any 3rd party is bad news for dems. Like Nader or Perot.
Nader was def a spoiler for a few years, but Perot HELPED dems get Clinton elected.
No, he isn’t because he isn’t really running for president.
exactly ^^^
He’s using this to leverage interest in his music.
Also, Kan-Trash (my new name for him) is still trying to be RELEVANT to the masses for his music and sneaker-wear. His statement is very HOAXY at best.
This. He’s delirious and others are enabling him which is sad. But he hasn’t filled anything, he doesn’t have a team, he hasn’t done anything to formalize his claims. Even Joe Exotic was better prepared.
This is his bipolar manifesting in delusions of grandeur and inflated self-importance. A few years ago, it manifested as him going on public rants against Jay-Z and now it’s this. He’s ill and those two enablers who are his “campaign staff” are disgusting for exploiting him and not trying to prevent him from embarrassing himself like this.
Also: I really don’t think he will siphon off a significant amount of votes, not enough to really hurt Biden. Everyone I know realizes how serious this election is and anyone who would actually vote for Kanye this year would have either voted third party, a joke candidate, or not voted anyway. What Democrat is actually going to vote for someone who is anti-vaccine, anti-choice, and has been ride or die for Trump for years? It also makes me uncomfortable to see so many people on here afraid that he’s going to siphon a significant amount of Black votes just because he’s also Black, despite all of his anti-Black rhetoric and behavior; honestly I find that logic kind of offensive.
Agreed. This is why the only thing Kim tweeted was an American flag, she never said she supported. him.
My first thought was “Kim Kardashian, come get your husband.” So I hope you’re right and her endorsement was just one of his delusions.
My guess is that both the Trump campaign (covertly) and the media (overtly) are just taking advantage of this seriously mentally ill man who is off his meds.
I think there would be people who think their votes don’t matter so might as well vote for Kanye. Or people who think its funny to vote for him. Or Bernie supporters? They think we deserve whatever we get because Bernie isn’t the candidate.
All of this. He’s not well, and people need to stop enabling him with nonsense like this, and frankly stop interviewing him and covering him in the media. He’s not well, and needs help.
I didn’t see anyone at all taking his announcement seriously, and by next week he’ll be on to something else.
Also, anyone (not just Kanye) who is just NOW withdrawing their support, that means they’ve been ok with everything up to this point. So spare me all the “I can’t support him anymore” stories I’m seeing. I’m glad to know his support is crumbling, but too many turned a blind eye for a long time.
“ people need to stop enabling him with nonsense like this, and frankly stop interviewing him and covering him in the media.”
THIS ALL OF THIS SO MUCH THIS
I’m not a “media is the enemy of the people” lunatic, but the powers that be need to realize that just because they could cover something and it will sell, doesn’t mean they should. This was an issue when Trump was running and it’s an issue now. Stop giving bad people airtime, do your civic duty.
Totally agree. I think the logic of blacks voting for him due to skin color is offensive. And as you stated, Kanye has given the black community the finger ever since his slavery comments. I often wonder what his mother, Dr. Donda West would make of this if she were still alive. Imho, he has been on a tailspin since she’s been gone.
I know I can’t speak to what ALL black people think, but just about every black author/blogger/pundit etc I’ve read/heard has said that Kanye is a fool. and they WOULD NOT vote for him.
Fool…that’s all I have.
There is no proof that he was tested for Covid. I want to see the receipts. It makes me wonder if Trump or at least his campaign is in cahoots with Kanye as a way to get votes from Biden. Kanye really doesn’t totally step away from Trump – just took off the red hat.
I’m sorry but how can Kim stand by him now when she has specifically campaigned for planned parenthood?
Together to build a brand. If her brand suffers, she’s out.
Hope he shoves it where the sun doesn’t shine. What a joke.
I’m not worried about Kanye siphoning off black votes. I’m more worried about the same White dudebros who wrote in Harambe in 2016. After all, that’s who goes to Kanye’s concerts.
My only worry re: black voters is voter suppression and intimidation.
“Trump’s special.” GTFO.
What I find the most disturbing is that Kim (or any other person) would actually choose to marry and start a family with someone who has such serious mental issues.
It really sounds like you’re saying that mentally ill people shouldn’t be able to find love or happiness and that’s really gross. Reducing someone to their mental illness is incredibly demeaning, dehumanizing and toxic. Even “severe” mental illnesses can often be managed with proper treatment, and even when not, that doesn’t mean that it would be “disturbing” to be with someone who has mental health struggles. It would take more work, but with the right person it can absolutely be worth it.
eh, I didn’t get that from Rhys’s post. and while I agree with your overall premise that mentally ill people are “allowed” to find love and happiness, Kanye is a tough case…he refuses to take his meds, which could make him dangerous to himself or others, like his kids. and it’s not a case where he took them, felt better and thought “eh, I’m better, I don’t need meds!” he KNOWS he should be taking them but he refuses because it “stifles” his creative juices. he essentially actively encourages himself to be manic because he thinks it makes him have profound and genius ideas.
someone with mental health struggles can absolutely be a fantastic partner and father, but Kanye ain’t it. I took Rhys’ post to mean, why would someone choose to marry and procreate with someone who is DELIBERATELY making himself mentally unhealthy. he chooses this mental state. not the illness, obv, but the choice to remain unhealthy is his.
I agree. It’s one thing to have a temper or whatever idiosyncrasies we are all guilty of. It’s a whole other thing to date someone who acts like an unhinged person and then decide to marry, and have children with them! Yeah, no. No matter how much money you have or how desperate you are to start a family, better to think long and hard about the kind of father you will be giving your children for life. But I think Kim just wanted to have a big celebrity wedding and a family.
Kanye wasn’t this bad when Kim married him. He was still off, but not this level of off. So I doubt she realized how difficult he would become.
She was irresponsible to bring four children into the mix, because it became more obvious that Kanye was accelerating into problems certainly by child #3 if not child #2, but since she outsources a lot of the parenting work – maybe she didn’t feel it would be a problem being essentially their only non-batshit crazy parent.
I hope she never lets him alone with the kids, he simply is too unpredictable and not in a good way. But I think they always would have nannies with them.
Kim and Kanye had been friends with benefits for a long time, and once she realized he was single again – she raced to file for divorce from new Husband #2 (without bothering to discuss the matter with H2). H2 was just a publicity stunt to make sure she could say she was married by 30. But Kanye at the time could get her where she wanted to go, because he had the contacts. Not sure he still has such power, but Kim may have enough of her own now.
So is Kim an anti-vaxxer too? Didn’t they all get the whooping cough vaccine on an episode of their show…or was that all fake? How are these two people married? They seem to have different opinions on EVERYTHING. Hmmm maybe secretly Kim and Kanye have the same opinions but publicly Kim acts as if she doesn’t agree with Kanye. I don’t know but this is all so weird.
Kanye can eat broken glass.
He should be ignored. He has not done any paperwork to actually run.
He thinks he can get around it because he’s special and Covid yadda yadda.
Him thinking he automatically has the black vote is profoundly insulting for black people.
Yes, please give us black folks more credit. Maybe some of his fellow dumb rich celebrity friends will drink the Kool aid but let’s not assume he has that kind of influence.
Nope..nope. nope. Let’s just collectively ignore Kanye pls.
Doubtful.
He’s doing this to split the vote and it’s not going to work. Such an obvious stunt.
It might work, though. I hope not (with every fiber of my being) but it might.
Who would’ve thought that artiste Kanye, a man who considers himself a Genius albeit not reading at all, would become the living image of stupidity?
I don’t think Kanye is stupid I think he is delusional – it’s part of the illness.
So Kanye’s taking the MAGA hat off in exchange for a tinfoil one?
Great idea.
And talking to the “expert” Jared Kushner?
Even greater idea.
The bigggest idea of all would be though to make amends for things like saying slavery was a choice, spewing anti-vaxx bullshit and giving back the millions he took that should have gone to small businesses, to help them deal with hardships caused by the current crisis.
Kanye needs to be back on meds. I wish the press would stop covering him, the attention is really feeding his ego.
Im more worried bout Jo Jorgensen than Kayne. No one takes him seriously except himself. He is clearly mentally ill and it hurts that he is not getting the help he needs. Reminds me of Britney circa 2008ish.
This is not entertaining. It’s very disappointing that media outlets give this man a platform when he is showing every classic behavior of a seriously mentally ill person who needs support and treatment. Not an effing Forbes interview.
boy needs help…he needs his mama bad.
I think many of Kanye’s problems started when his mother died–he is a mess. I agree that he shouldn’t be covered in the media. it’s like watching a car accident, and as much as he used to make me angry, now I just think he needs help.
My conspiracy theory vibes are kicking in that this is some elaborate scheme to detract voters from Biden so that Trump wins again. And while I normally wouldn’t think people would be that dumb to fall for such a narcissistic, self-inflated man who literally compares himself to Jesus – I didn’t actually think Trump would be in office either.
He is done? He just needs to go away. Kim was so dumb for marrying him and is still dumb for staying married to him.
Yeah, he is a complete wacko that needs help.
But there were no other available men with a ‘K’ name
He hasn’t filed anything to actually run and has missed the deadline in at least 8 states. I think follow through is not his specialty which is fine with me.
My concern is if he missed the deadline for states like PA, OH, CA, FL, the ones where the Electoral College count.
How much is Russia paying him to do this? Bet he is a broke fraud like Cheeto. He’s the new Jill Stein for sure
This guy is a sad mess. I guess when you have mental illness along with money, you get labeled an eccentric or a renegade or whatever. He’s not getting on any ballots, or showing his tax returns or health records. Maybe he’ll try for a few swing states to sabotage votes put this really is a mess and don’t know why this is even getting oxygen. 2020 really is the year of “ hold my beer”.
Sometimes I wonder if this is just an act by him to keep relevant and giving society the fake perception, that’s he’s some complex person. On his wife’s show he seems to be more calm and quiet. Maybe they sit around at night laughing, thinking up what nonsense he should spill in front of the Media and public. I don’t see her staying with him if he was truly mentally unstable.
Thats what did it? The bunker? No. Kanye is 100% a Trumper, and wants to split Bidens voters.
Oh, shut UP, Kanye. Seriously, just stop talking!
I don’t want him to take the red hat off, I just want him to take his meds.
He needs a conservator like Britney.
Can we please cancel this egotistical moron for good? I can’t fathom how he even has any fans left. I can’t even listen to his good, older stuff anymore because of the rotten person that he has been in the past few years. Isn’t Kim tired of his antics by now? This is why I will never care for her no matter how much she pretends to change. She is still married to this guy and enables/defends him.
As a black person I find it absolutely insulting to assumed that Because we share the same skin tone as Kanye white peoples are falling over themselves. To say their goes the black votes for Biden that somehow we are easily sway because Kanye is black that’s completely disgusting let me remind people white woman are the ones who voted for trump into offices so maybe people should be more worried about white woman again because as recently we see their a lot of Karen’s out their who love nothing more then to keep their white privileged.
I think Kim K. treats Kanye like a math problem: how much does she gain (in terms of public image, family cohesion, benefits to her show, her brand, her kids, herself) by staying with him, vs. how much does it cost her personally to deal with his episodes? So far, the math has gone in favor of the marriage staying intact but this announcement made me think she will run that problem again and come up with a different answer soon.
Well maybe he’ll get the misguided hotep vote. All I know is, I’m tired of Kanye.
Another person who has zero qualifications to be POTUS is running . What is wrong with this country. With money you can do anything in this country. I do not get the attraction of Kanye West. I dont like his music and I like him even less. I
If (ans it’s a big if) he is a candidate and some of your citizens are willing to waste a vote on Kanye, then this is your fault America.
Please, please, Please PLEASE
STOP
REPORTING
ON
KANYE.
THIS is how we got Trump in office. Ignore it, don’t report on it. Don’t give people an opportunity to think they should write him in. STOP.
I’ve yet to see one black person on Twitter who supports him. They are all laughing at him. They supported Biden because they want to get rid of Trump. Voting for Kanye won’t do that. Black voters are pragmatic and smarter than this.
Man. Someone needs to check on Kanye. He’s clearly in a manic episode and the people around him are feeding into it. No one cares about him making a fool out of himself. Kim come get your husband!