Kanye West Faces Backlash Over Israel-Gaza Stance

Kanye West's answer to a question about the conflict between Israel and Hamas has divided the internet.

The rapper, who now goes by the name Ye, was asked about his thoughts on the Palestinians while at an airport.

"I don't have enough information on that, I'm straight up," Ye said and repeated the n- word. "I'm from the south side of Chicago, born in Atlanta. I don't have enough information, love for everybody but don't pull me into that conversation."

Ye continued: "I got people, I've got 14 kids dying every week in my city. So talk to me about that."

The rapper was likely talking about Chicago where he spent most of his life but did not specify what the children were dying from. He was presumably referring to homicides, as the city has experienced a surge of violence in recent years.

Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by an Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October, according to the Associated Press. Israel started the ongoing attacks after Hamas launched a surprise offensive in the south of country which killed 1,200 people and left more than 200 as hostages, according to AP.

In the week prior to Ye's comments, Chicago recorded five homicides bringing the 2024 total to 39 per the Chicago Police Department's crime report.

In 2022, the most recent year for which figures are available, the main causes of death for the 599 children aged between one and 17 who died in the state of Illinois were accidents, homicide, cancer, suicide and congenital malformations. That equates to around 11 deaths per week in the entire state of which Chicago is the capital.

In that same year 175 children died in the city of Chicago itself, according to data from Illinois' Department of Public Health.

Footage of Ye's comments has been uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, triggering a mixed reaction.

"Not having enough information is a ridiculous excuse when we're 75 years in," said one person.

Another added: "I think in order to be a celebrity, you have to be absolutely f***** stupid."

But some had a different take.

"That's a good answer, really. Americans really need to focus on what's happening in [America]," one person said.

A second person wrote: "That's a damn good answer, really. Kids dying in his city he finds more relevant than what's going on over there. Good response IMO."

Ye was likely not keen to wade into a debate about Israel after he was dropped by Adidas, who he worked with for his Yeezy streetwear line, over antisemitic comments he made on X and other platforms in 2022. Forbes valued his Yeezy deal at $1.5 billion and his fortune dropped to $400 million after it ended.

After spending months doubling down on his offensive comments, Ye apologized to Jewish people on his Instagram page in December.

He wrote to his 18.2 million followers: "I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community ... It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused. I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity."