Kanye West Posts Takeoff Tribute in Latest Twitter Rant: 'Love Forever'

Kanye West has paid tribute to late rapper Takeoff—before launching into an extended rant regarding his antisemitism scandal.

Migos member Takeoff, 28, was fatally shot outside a bowling alley called 801 Billiards & Bowling in Houston, Texas, at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Per the Houston Police Department, officers arrived on the scene, where "[one] victim was found deceased," while two other shooting victims at the venue were "taken in private vehicles to hospitals." Both are expected to make full recoveries.

Following an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, authorities announced on Wednesday that Takeoff died from gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

Takeoff was with his Migos bandmate and uncle, Quavo, at the time of the incident. Quavo, whose real name is Quavious Keyate Marshall, was not among those shot.

Takeoff and Quavo were playing dice before an altercation broke out and shots were fired, per TMZ. A host of celebrities and public figures have since paid tribute to Takeoff on social media.

West, who has legally changed his name to Ye, added his name to the list of those paying tribute on Thursday night, when he took to Twitter to share a photo of himself with Migos' Takeoff, Quavo, and Offset, alongside the caption: "LOVE FOREVER."

The musician and fashion designer also shared a black-and-white photo of Takeoff with Quavo and Offset, the late rapper's uncle and cousin, respectively. He added the caption: "FAMILY."

West was temporarily barred from using his Twitter account on October 9, after he posted that he was "going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE." West added that he "actually can't be Anti Semitic because Black people are actually Jew also. You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda."

While it was not specified how long West was locked out of his account, he posted for the first time on Wednesday, days after billionaire Elon Musk finalized his purchase of the platform, amid expectations he will reverse bans and prioritize free speech.

For his return, West opted to forgo any words, instead sharing a black-and-white photo of NBA star Kyrie Irving, who is also under fire after he posted about a documentary that is widely deemed to be antisemitic.

On October 27, Irving—known for discussing conspiracy theories off the court—posted a link to a documentary titled Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America on Twitter, sparking backlash from many, including the NBA and Nets team owner Joe Tsai, as well as several Jewish organizations.

The 2018 documentary is based on a 2014 book of the same title by Ronald Dalton. The film advertises itself as an exploration of how the biblical identity of Black people has been covered up by Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Rolling Stone reported that both the movie and the book follow ideas that belong to "extreme factions" within the Black Hebrew Israelite movement that has been accused of being antisemitic, homophobic, xenophobic, misogynistic and even Islamophobic.

West further showed support for Irving by posting a video clip of the sportsman telling reporters: "I've told you guys how I felt. I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That's where I sit… I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from."

Adding a caption to the clip, West wrote: "JOHN 19:19. 'And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Responding to an Instagram post discussing his Twitter statement, West stated in a later tweet: "You can't be anti-Semite when you know you are Semite."

West also posted a copy of the Brooklyn Nets' statement announcing that Irving had been suspended from the team without pay over his "failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so."

"This in not hate. We are love. God is love," West captioned the post.

Elsewhere, West posted a screenshot of a headline in which Shaquille O'Neal was shown to be criticizing Irving.

"They make us bully ourselves because of our business alignments," West wrote alongside the screenshot, before going on to question the balance of power in O'Neal's business dealings with billionaire Jamie Salter.

Former Los Angeles Lakers player O'Neal responded to West's tweet, writing: "Believe me you don't know me like that. Worry about your business, and to quote the once great Kanye West 'I got more money than you, so why would I listen to you.' Take my advice get your family business in order. Have a great day brother."

West also took aim at his former personal trainer Harley Pasternak, who is Jewish. West showed text messages that purport to show the fitness guru offering for the two to have a conversation without "cuss words" and "based in fact" and "not some crazy stuff." The alternative purportedly offered was for West to be "institutionalized again."

Captioning the screenshots, West, who has spoken of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, wrote: "What should be obvious by now is that I was raised to stand for my truth regardless of the consequences. So I will say this again, I was mentally misdiagnosed and nearly drugged out of my mind to make me a manageable well-behaved celebrity."

Amid his rant, West, who has seen multiple businesses distance themselves from him amid his ongoing antisemitic statements, said that he was going to take a month-long "cleanse," writing: "I'm not talking to nooobody for a month."

"I'm taking a 30 day cleanse, read a text image. "A verbal fast. No alcohol. No adult films. No intercourse. In God we praise. Amen. But my Twitter still lit."

Newsweek has contacted representatives of West and Pasternak for comment.

Update 11/4/22, 5:32 a.m. ET: This article was updated to add extra information.