Single Released on Victory in Europe Day, May 8
Repeated Antisemitic and Pro-Nazi Remarks in the Past
American hip-hop star Kanye West (stage name Ye), who has repeatedly sparked controversy with antisemitic remarks and statements praising the Nazis, is once again at the center of debate after releasing a song that glorifies Adolf Hitler.
According to reports from the British daily The Telegraph and the American broadcaster NBC on May 11 (local time), West released a single titled "Heil Hitler" on May 8, which is Victory in Europe Day commemorating the end of World War II in Europe. In the chorus of the song, he shouts "Heil Hitler," saying, "They don't understand what I say on Twitter." The latter part of the track even includes a recording of a Hitler speech.
West's new song is unavailable on major streaming platforms such as Spotify and SoundCloud, as these sites have collectively blocked the track. However, it has not been blocked on X (formerly Twitter), which is owned by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. The Telegraph reported that the song has already been played over 8 million times. Additionally, at least 12,000 users and some right-wing influencers quickly shared videos featuring the song.
Jim Berk, head of the American Jewish human rights organization Simon Wiesenthal Center, criticized the release in an interview with Billboard magazine, stating, "Releasing this song on the day commemorating the defeat of the Nazi regime is an explicit act of hate speech."
Since around 2020, West has repeatedly expressed antisemitic views and praised Nazism in public, causing widespread controversy. In a 2022 interview, he said, "I like Hitler," and also posted an image on social media that combined the Nazi symbol swastika with the Jewish symbol Star of David.
In February, he caused further outrage by selling T-shirts featuring Nazi symbols through his online store. At the time, the only item available for purchase on West's website was the controversial T-shirt, with no additional explanation or other products offered. The T-shirt was named HH-01, which appears to be derived from the Nazi salute "Heil Hitler."
Meanwhile, West is scheduled to hold his first solo concert in Korea, "DONDA 2," at Incheon Munhak Stadium on May 31.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
