Kanye West whipped up more backlash on live television with TMZ on Tuesday (May 1) with a shamful remark about African slavery.
According to him, 400 years of enslavement “sounds like a choice,” and emphasizes the inner workings of mental imprisonment. It goes without saying that his commentary didn’t go over well with fans and anyone else tuned into the TMZ Live segment, including the now-celebrated Van Lathan, who got into a heated exchange with ‘Ye after explaining the defects and irrationality of his argument.
Viewers everywhere praised Lathan for not only his tactful, veracious response, but also for having the guts as the only one in the room to challenge the Chicago hip-hop icon. But he’s not alone now that the rest of Yeezy’s rap counterparts, for the second time in one week, are pumping the breaks on his tomfoolery and folks from all over the Hollywood circle. Yeezy has since offered a clarification of his comments via Twitter, but not one solid enough for the general population to buy.
See his attempt at further explaining the comments and everyone else who is calling ‘Ye out for the divisive rhetoric below.
we need to have open discussions and ideas on unsettled pain
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
to make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
They cut out our tongues so we couldn't communicate to each other. I will not allow my tongue to be cut
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
Kanye vs the media is modern day Willie Linch theory.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
they hung the most powerful in order to force fear into the others.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
they can no longer stop our voice.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
the Nat Turner movie never made it anywhere because it showed slaves revolting. I understand why my god brother Puff calls his network revolt.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
Cause they made us hate ourself and love they wealth...
— Trey Songz (@TreySongz) May 1, 2018
I woke up this morning & i prayed 4 @kanyewest although slavery was NOT A CHOICE... LOVE IS. So please choose love, choose healing, choose stregnth, choose mercy, choose GOD! All he needs is to do do is embrace humility. Stop worshiping the false idol (himself) and worship GOD.
— marlon wayans (@MarlonWayans) May 2, 2018
Don’t usually get caught up in commenting about stuff like this but I saw what Kanye West said and I was ASHAMED. 400 Years of slavery a CHOICE???? Really! All I’ll say is this: I’m incredibly proud of that staffer from TMZ. Brilliant, Eloquent & totally appropriate response.#WTH
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 2, 2018
(Photos from left: Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic, Marc Piasecki/GC Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
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