Kanye West is like the Donald Trump of pop culture in many ways. Both exude a large amount of self-confidence, remain imperturbable to the negative opinions of others, and hold enormous influence in their respective realms. It is not uncommon to overhear conversations on campus about the latest controversial comment made by either of the two high-profile figures, igniting reactions of both admiration and disgust. While there is no doubt that West has been a trailblazer in both the music and fashion industry, it does not excuse the fact that the way he uses his power, evidenced though past and recent actions, is extremely detrimental to modern society.
West has been under fire for his provocative and problematic conduct over the years. Those who don't agree with his ideas find him ridiculous and offensive, while his fans applaud him for being bold and outspoken. In 2009, he became notorious for interrupting pop star Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech, with the famous words, "Taylor, I'm really happy for you. Imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!"
Despite having given a public apology, his insensitivity doesn't stop there. During his 2014 Yeezus tour, the artist stopped a concert in Australia because two seated audience members in wheelchairs wouldn't stand up and dance during his set. Many people dismissed his behavior as just another one of his antics, calling those who were outraged "overly sensitive," adding to the problem of the way society treats and views disabled people.
Most recently, in his newest album The Life of Pablo, which debuted at Madison Square Garden in front of millions of people, West crosses the line with his distasteful and controversial song lyrics. Despite the fact that he and Swift have been on good terms, he exploits the explosive 2009 incident once again, using misogynistic lyrics like, "For all my Southside n****s who will know me best / I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why, I made that bitch famous / God damn / I made that bitch famous."
Many people, including songwriter and percussionist Kozza, responded positively to this lyric, respecting the fact that West does not care what other people think. Taylor Swift's brother reacted by posting a video on Instagram of throwing a pair of Yeezy's into the trash.
Despite reports claiming that Swift knew that West would mention her in a song, she was unaware of the lyric's specific content. West's offensive words perpetuates the notion that a woman owes a man anything, whether it is her body or the success of her career. Even media outlets who reported on this incident focused primarily on the fact that she knew that this song was coming rather than the greater issue of West's misogyny and disrespect, further advancing the "asking for it" mentality. This unsettling act relates directly to the problems of slut-shaming and objectification of women in our society and should not be brushed off as another one of West's admirably unapologetic antics.
The reason that figures like Kanye West are able to amass such a large and loyal following is for the same reason that many people despise him. Though he is transparent, original and honest — traits that are rarely seen in celebrities as well as politicians, who tend to calculate their words and actions in order to gain the favor of the general public, the self-proclaimed "God" is far from one. As someone who yields such a huge amount of influence, especially towards the younger generation, West should be using his fame as a platform for creating a positive impact to the world — not intentionally wreaking havoc at the expense of women for attention.
Reach Contributor Erika Lee here.
Annenberg Media