Kanye West defends his support for Trump, says backlash reminds him of being racially profiled: 'It's classism'
Kanye West has opened up about the backlash he suffered for expressing his support for President Donald J Trump, likening it to his life as an African-American before he became famous.
The 42-year-old megastar spoke candidly to the Wall Street Journal magazine about the criticism he received for sporting the "Make America Great Again hat", as he's featured on the cover of the magazine's April issue.
"I’m a black guy with a red [MAGA] hat, can you imagine?" Kanye told writer Christina Binkley, noting that he is not registered to vote and doesn't follow politics. "It reminded me of how I felt as a black guy before I was famous, when I would walk in a restaurant and people would look at you like you were going to steal something," he explained.
The husband of reality TV star Kim Kardashian also explained his frustration after critics made assumptions about him due to his race, education, his life as a rapper, as well as his support for the Republican president.
"'This is your place, Ye, don’t talk about apparel. This is your place, Ye, you’re black, so you’re a Democrat,'" he said, mimicking his detractors.
West said that despite his monetary success and worldwide fame, his life is adversely affected due to the classism entrenched in modern American society.
"Everything is about putting people in their place. Classism, protectionism — not just racism," he explained. "Classism is like living on a bookshelf. The more money you have, the higher you go. And you get to the top and look over and what do you see? Fear."
In October of 2018, Kanye famously met with Trump at the Oval Office. During the meeting, the rapper went on to rejoice how wearing the MAGA hat made him "feel like Superman."
Prior to that, he grabbed national headlines for rendering an impassioned speech supporting the President during an appearance on the Season 44 premiere of Saturday Night Live — all the while donning the notorious red headwear.
Kanye debuted his latest Yeezy designs earlier this month at the brand's A/W 20/21 Paris Fashion Week show following a three-year hiatus from fashion events. His wife Kim, daughter North, sister-in-law Kourtney Kardashian, and niece Penelope Disick, also accompanied him.
"I believe that Yeezy is the McDonald’s and the Apple of apparel," he told WSJ of his high hopes for the brand. "In order to make the Apple of apparel the next Gap, it has to be a new invention. To invent something that is so good that you don’t even get credit for it because it’s the norm."
The 'Stronger' hitmaker worked at a Gap store as a teenager.
The April issue of WSJ features stunning black-and-white photographs from a gospel service Kanye held at a small sound stage in Hollywood back in February this year.
The photos, shot by Paolo Pellegrin, show Kanye leading a 120-person choir donning uniforms designed by the rapper including robes, gold pendants, and classic Yeezy sneakers.