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A Timeline of the Consequences Ye Has Faced for His ‘WLM’ Shirts & Antisemitic Hate Speech

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Ye (formerly Kanye West) is facing very public reckoning. The “Hurricane” rapper made headlines at his Yeezy Paris Fashion Week show on Oct. 3, 2022, for wearing a shirt emblazoned with the phrase “White Lives Matter” on its back, and featuring Black models in the shirt. The phrase is one that was adopted by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and the rapper has been facing backlash from both fans and celebrities online.

But the controversy did not stop for there for Ye, who has doubled down on his comments on Instagram and later took to Twitter (now X) to use antisemitic rhetoric in his posts, then continued to amplify his hate speech in interviews. The reaction from the public was swift, with several companies — including The Gap, Balenciaga and more — terminating their relationships and brand deals with the rapper.

Kanye West

Musicians React to Kanye West’s Antisemitic Comments, ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirts

Forbes reported that Ye has lost his billionaire status after Adidas announced Oct. 25, 2022, that it was dropping his deal, and that the brand does not tolerate hate speech. The move, according to the publication, put Ye’s net worth at $400 million and resulted in his removal from Forbes‘ billionaires list.

Since then, Adidas has opened an internal investigation after several former employees accused West of inappropriate workplace conduct during meetings with Adidas employees. People in his orbit, from former girlfriend Julia Fox to collaborator Pusha T, have also distanced themselves from him. Furthermore, Ye’s Nov. 22, 2022, dinner with Donald Trump and white nationalist Nick Fuentes was widely denounced, even by Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence.


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From brands and scrapped documentaries, to airplay declines of his music catalogue, his later apologies and more, here are the consequences Kanye West has faced due to his “WLM” and antisemitic remarks and hate speech.

*Editor’s Note: After an Oct. 8, 2022, tweet in which he announced he was going “death con [sic] 3 on Jewish people,” Kanye West (Ye) has repeatedly doubled down on antisemitic hate speech, even going so far as to praise Hitler, a man responsible for the systematic murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust. This arrives at a troubling time when antisemitism is on the rise, with the Anti-Defamation League noting a 34% year-over-year increase in antisemitic incidents (assault, harassment and vandalism) in America in 2021. Many companies have cut business ties with the rapper/fashion designer, while numerous musicians, friends and politicians have condemned his comments.

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Taemin Feels ‘So Honored & Grateful’ to Be the First Male K-Pop Solo Artist to Perform at Coachella

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Taemin is making history a long way from home. SHINee member and K-pop star appeared on the Wednesday (April 1) episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show, where he spoke about being part of this year’s Coachella lineup.

“You’re making history as the first K-pop male solo artist to perform at Coachella,” Hudson points out during their chat. “How does that feel?”

“There is a saying in Korea, ‘Big opportunities come three times in life,'” Taemin responds after sharing that he was feeling “honored and grateful” to be performing at the festival. “And this is one of them.”

Hudson continues the chat by asking the star if he will release more solo music.

“Oh, yes,” Taemin replies. “I am still evolving.”

The star was also on the talk show to perform his new single, “Long Way Home.” The “Idol’s Idol” sang alone on the stage, dancing effortlessly with his rhinestone microphone and mic stand for the adoring audience.

Performing at Coachella isn’t the only history Taemin is making this year. Billboard exclusively revealed in March that the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles will open a new exhibit dedicated to the K-pop star’s nearly two-decade long career, making him the first K-pop soloist to receive such recognition from the museum. “TAEMIN: Performer. Artist. Icon” will opens April 1 and will give fans a peek behind the curtains of Taemin’s career. Multiple performance looks — including one from his Ephemeral Gaze World Tour — will be on display as well as his official lightstick and a handwritten note addressed to his fans. The special exhibit will run through May 25.

Watch Taemin’s performance and chat on The Jennifer Hudson Show above.


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‘Pinky Up’! Here’s When KATSEYE’s New Single Arrives

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KATSEYE is taking EYEKONS to etiquette classes, and the first rule we’re learning? Pinkies up.

The HYBE K-pop girl group announced new single “Pinky Up” via a series of social media posts. The first arrived Monday (March 30). It was a cryptic video featuring the Mona Lisa bringing a piping hot cup of tea up to her mouth — pinky up, of course. The next came Tuesday morning (March 31), this time featuring an arcade claw machine with “KATSEYE” emblazoned across the top as the claw pulls out a sword from the midst of blinged out stuffed animals and a singular tea cup. What may be a hint to some of the song’s lyrics, the caption for the reel says, “We’re screaming from cloud nine!!”

The third post confirmed the arriving single and its artwork, featuring someone kneeling on a carpet behind with a tea cup on a saucer and a toy cat, and the title of the song across the front in hot pink lettering. The caption reads “PINKY UP SINGLE RELEASE” as well as the release date and time, April 9 at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET.

“Pinky Up” comes out just in time for KATSEYE’s Coachella debut on Friday (April 10). The single will also be the band’s first new work since record labels HYBE and Geffen announced last month that member Manon Bannerman would be taking a break from the group. Since Manon has stepped back, KATSEYE has continued their previously scheduled appearances, including performances at Lollapalooza Argentina and Lollapalooza Chile. On March 24, the band was announced as the headliner for the 2026 Head in the Clouds Music & Arts Festival, to take place on Aug. 8 in Passadena, Calif.

See KATSEYE’s posts about “Pinky Up” below:


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Zendaya’s Rue Is on the Run in New ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Trailer

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Television this year is about to get turned up a few notches, as Euphoria is slated to return with season three on April 12 following a four-year hiatus. HBO released a second trailer for the Zendaya-starring show on Monday (March 30).

The high-school days seem to be long in the rearview mirror, as season three feels more like a set of Grand Theft Auto campaign missions and takes place about five years post graduation.

The clip kicks off with Rue (Zendaya) being interrogated by authorities about a recent trip to Mexico. The scene pivots to her involvement with a Mexican drug lord, which finds Rue in a tricky predicament of having to swallow what appears to be a ball of drugs and act as a mule.

Nate (Jacob Elordi) and Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) toxic relationship ended with wedding bells, as the trailer shows the couple getting married, which is sure to come with plenty of drama. Maddie (Alexa Demie) also hops behind the camera to direct some adult content photo shoots for Cassie, who has rekindled their friendship.

Lexi (Maude Apatow) looks to have landed her dream job working on the set of a TV show. Euphoria also welcomes the returns of the late Eric Dane (who portrays Cal Jacobs), Colman Domingo (Ali), Dominic Fike (Elliot), Hunter Schafer (Jules) and Chloe Cherry (Faye).

“Mom, I really need to come home,” a teary-eyed Rue pleads with her mother. The superstar actress is also seen in the trailer being pulled over by police during a traffic stop, which appears to lead to the intense interrogation.

There’s also some new blood injected into season three, which will find appearances from Sharon Stone, former NFL star Marshawn Lynch, Rosalía, Danielle Deadwyler, Trisha Paytas, Natasha Lyonne and Eli Roth.

Season two aired in 2022, which came three years after a dynamic opening season in 2019.

Watch the Euphoria trailer above. Season three returns on April 12 on HBO, with the eight-episode season set to wrap on May 31.


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