Topline
Kanye West’s talent agency has severed ties with him following his online posting spree filled with antisemitic messages and the sale of swastika-emblazoned T-shirts through his fashion brand. This resulted in Shopify shutting down his website, and he is also facing a lawsuit from a Jewish former employee who claims he texted her, “Hail Hitler.”
Kanye West and Bianca Censori at the Grammy Awards.
Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Timeline
The Yeezy website displayed an all-white screen stating, “Something went wrong. What happened? This store is unavailable.”
Shopify informed multiple news outlets that it was responsible for taking down the site due to West’s non-compliance with commerce standards.
Uncertainty surrounds whether any of the swastika T-shirts were shipped to buyers during the brief period they were available.
A Jewish former employee filed a lawsuit in California, alleging discrimination and harassment by West based on her religion and gender.
The plaintiff, who worked for Yeezy in 2024, reported instances of antisemitic remarks, including a text message stating, “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler,” alongside inappropriate content.
33&West, a Los Angeles talent agency, announced it would no longer represent West, with his agent, Daniel McCartney, specifically citing West’s “harmful” rhetoric.
Vocabulary List:
- Severed /ˈsɛv.ərd/ (verb): To cut off or break a connection.
- Antisemitic /ˌæn.ti.səˈmɪt.ɪk/ (adjective): Prejudice against hatred of or discrimination against Jews.
- Discrimination /dɪsˌkrɪm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ (noun): Unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people.
- Harassment /həˈræs.mənt/ (noun): Aggressive pressure or intimidation.
- Rhetoric /ˈrɛt.ər.ɪk/ (noun): The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.
- Lawsuit /ˈlɔː.suːt/ (noun): A legal case brought before a court.
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