Kanye West Returns to His Antisemitic Roots
Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye, recently posted a series of anti-Jewish social media posts and followed it by selling merchandise featuring a swastika.
Sasha Heller is the Web Editor and Copy Editor for the Atlanta Jewish Times
Here ‘Ye’ goes again with the antisemitism.
Kanye West, who now goes by the moniker, ‘Ye,’ and who suffers from a documented G-d complex that can be verified via his disturbing social media footprint, recently made headlines due to a series of anti-Jewish posts on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, which were amplified to the masses thanks to X’s algorithm that promotes influential users as well as those who pay for verified accounts that exist to drive traffic for financial benefit.
While his musical genius is also verifiable, Kanye’s outspoken antisemitic viewpoints have divided his fan base and upset an already grief-stricken Jewish community that is currently dealing with the fallout of the attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Yemen … while praying for the return of the hostages still in captivity. Kanye’s hateful influence only added fuel to the fire for social media trolls to latch onto and recycle.
With limited oversight, via X’s community notes — which serve as a fact-checking system for the platform — the site’s algorithm rewards the most popular users with financial incentives based on engagement rates. The higher your engagement rates, the more traffic you bring to the platform (i.e. the more “likes, comments & retweets”), the more money the user makes. Elon made it that simple … on purpose.
It’s important to note that posts that contain misinformation and disinformation will be flagged with a community note; however, users can just quickly scroll past the note, ignore its message and proceed to engage with a series of confirmation bias posts, which again, are pushed to the top of the message thread if they were posted by influential users or those who have paid to have their posts amplified via the algorithm. The user who makes the post is rewarded with profit from Elon and the user who engages with the post – whether it’s about how cute puppies are or about how much Kanye hates the Jewish race — is rewarded with a soft, pillowy stroke of social media manipulation.
Kanye shared conspiracy theories about Jewish producers in Hollywood, posting on X relentlessly — about a dozen times per hour over the course of a week — and, in peak antisemitic “fashion,” Kanye released a T-shirt for sale on his website that prominently featured a swastika. He was not “trolling” as the current vernacular may dictate. He was trying to profit off his hatred for Jewish people.
Not long after, while walking the red carpet at the Grammy Awards, Kanye subjected his then-wife, Bianca Censori, to a humiliation ritual where, after removing her coat, she flashed everyone present while wearing a sheer “garment” that left little to the imagination — she was essentially nude strapped with a thousand-dollar shred of satin covering her private parts. Images and video of Censori immediately went viral, and just a few days later, Censori would file for divorce from Kanye.
Rabbi Peter Berg, of The Temple, shared his personal thoughts about Kanye’s disturbing online presence.
“When public figures use their platforms to promote hate symbols and antisemitic rhetoric, it emboldens others and creates an environment where Jews feel both unsafe and unwelcome. The harmful rhetoric shared by Kanye West is deeply troubling and has no place in our society. At a time when misinformation and hate are spreading rapidly online, it is more important than ever to take a stand against Jew hatred in all forms. His rhetoric has led to real-world repercussions, inspiring antisemitic behavior that has crept into the mainstream American discourse — from politicians to celebrities.”
Rabbi Berg then shared his gratitude for community members who have continued to support the Jewish community in the face of rising tides of antisemitism.
“I’m grateful for those who are standing with the Jewish community and all those affected by hateful rhetoric. I hope that [Kanye] will continue to face widespread condemnation, costing him lucrative business partnerships and continuing to isolate him from the music industry.”
Amanda La Kier, Chief Philanthropy and Marketing Officer for Jewish Family & Career Services, also commented about antisemitism and the influence of social media.
“Antisemitic content on any social media platform is alarming and deeply impacts mental health, especially among our adolescents and teens. We can’t control the antisemitic content, the source, other users who support it, or the fact that algorithms favor engagement over quality or substance. We can, however, contribute to making sure young people have the tools to identify their own needs, set boundaries, and apply them to the digital space, leading to the curation of a healthier and safer online experience.”
For anyone dealing with the negative impact of social media or antisemitism, La Kier reminds the community that JF&CS has a roster of programs and services available.
“JF&CS plays a critical role in providing mental health support through counseling, peer support groups, training, and resources. Our goal is to create safe spaces for tough conversations, build resilience, and empower our community to push back against online hate while fostering strength and unity.”
When asked what the Jewish community can do in response to antisemitic trends and memes that spread across social media, Rabbi Berg said, “Remaining silent is no longer an option. We must stand up and reject this kind of Jew hatred. I recommend a proactive approach to responding to memes on social media: education, advocacy, and mobilization.”
Rabbi Berg’s Tips to Combat Online Jewish Hate
Education – We should share well-researched responses to antisemitic tropes and misinformation. Use organizations like the American Jewish Committee and Anti-Defamation League for contextual information. This also includes engaging social media influencers and educators to create content that educates people.
Advocacy – Report antisemitic posts on platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok. Advocate for stronger enforcement of hate speech policies by working with tech companies. In addition to condemning antisemitism, share positive messages about Jewish life and identity.
Mobilization – Work with allies from other marginalized communities to address hate more broadly. Train on responding to online hate. Organize hashtag campaigns to raise awareness and counter antiemetic narratives.
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