Young British Jews who grew up listening to Kanye West are grappling with whether to continue supporting the artist after his recent antisemitic outbursts. The rapper, now known as Ye, has praised Adolf Hitler and posted a symbol combining a swastika and a Star of David, leading to widespread condemnation.
Louis Kay, a 22-year-old part-time music producer from Manchester, described feeling heartbroken. 'I was a massive fan of Kanye growing up,' he told BBC Newsbeat. 'Now it's like I've got an ex-boyfriend. I have so many happy memories with him.' Kay continues to listen to West's music but only through means that do not financially benefit the artist.
Others, like 25-year-old Amber Pinto from Hertfordshire, have chosen a complete boycott. She no longer listens to Ye's music or wears her Yeezy trainers. 'What he's done is an attack on the Jewish people,' she said. 'From repeating centuries-old antisemitic insults to praising Nazis, it reminds us of the threats that we as a community still face.'
However, some fans separate the art from the artist. George Ratner, 24, a marketing professional from London, said he won't delete Ye from his playlists. 'It has changed my views on him as a person but not as an artist,' he explained. 'I still listen to some other rappers who happen to be controversial.'
For black British Jews like Mordechai, who asked to be identified only by his Hebrew name, the pain is compounded. He was a top listener of Kanye on Spotify in 2019 but stopped after Ye said slavery was a choice. 'I didn't realise that I would be hit twice as hard when he started talking more about Jews and Nazis,' he said.
Despite losing partnerships with Adidas and other brands, Ye retains a platform on Instagram with 18.5 million followers. His music remains available on major streaming services, leaving fans to navigate their own moral boundaries.
