From the What the f**k Dept – In a move that has left many in disbelief, Kanye West, now known as Ye, aired a Super Bowl commercial promoting his Yeezy brand, which directed viewers to a website selling T-shirts emblazoned with a swastika.
The 30-second ad, reportedly costing $8 million, featured West in a dentist’s chair and concluded with a prompt to visit his website. “So what’s up, guys? I spent, like, all the money for the commercial on these new teeth,” he said. “So once again, I had to shoot it on the iPhone. Um, um, um, go to yeezy.com.” The shirts were not mentioned in the ad. Watch below:
Upon arrival, visitors were met with a $20 white T-shirt prominently displaying a black swastika. The shirt was labeled “HH-01,” which the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) interprets as code for “Heil Hitler.”
The ADL swiftly condemned the merchandise, stating, “Kanye West’s latest stunt is a reprehensible display of antisemitism. Using a platform as significant as the Super Bowl to promote hate symbols is not only irresponsible but dangerous.” Liora Rez, executive director of StopAntisemitism, called for action against the platform hosting West’s merchandise, urging, “Shopify must remove this vile content immediately. There should be no place for hate in online commerce.”
Public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. Social media platforms are flooded with expressions of shock and disgust. One user tweeted, “I can’t believe Kanye would stoop this low. This is beyond offensive.” Another commented, “Promoting hate during the Super Bowl? Unforgivable.”
This incident is the latest in a series of antisemitic actions by West. He has previously made statements expressing admiration for Hitler and has self-identified as a Nazi. These actions have led to widespread condemnation and the severing of business ties with major brands.
Despite the backlash, West remains defiant. In a recent video, he stated, “I’m in a positive space. I stand by my actions.” This stance has only intensified calls for accountability and consequences for his actions.
The controversy has also reignited discussions about the responsibilities of broadcasters and online platforms in regulating content. Critics have questioned how such an advertisement was approved to air during one of the most-watched events of the year and are calling for stricter oversight to prevent the promotion of hate symbols in the future.
As the situation continues to unfold, many are left grappling with the unsettling reality of how influential figures can propagate hate, and the imperative need for collective action to counteract such narratives.
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