Fashion house Balenciaga has cut ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, according to reports.
The move came after several offensive comments by Ye, including antisemitic posts that led to his suspension from Twitter and Instagram memberships.
“Balenciaga no longer has any relationship or plans for future projects associated with this artist,” parent company Kering said in response to a Friday inquiry from Women’s Wear Daily without further details.
Fashion House Balenciaga Cuts Ties with Kanye West
The company did not respond to multiple emails and calls from The Associated Press requesting comment. A representative for Ye also did not respond to requests for comment.
Ye collaborated with Balenciaga and its creative director Demna Gvasalia in several areas. The brand also actively worked with Kim Kardashian, Ye’s ex-wife, who appeared in their advertising campaigns and credits her former husband with introducing her to the brand.
Ye was recently banned from Twitter and Instagram for antisemitic posts that violated the social networks’ policies, according to the platforms. He also suggested that slavery is a choice and called the COVID-19 vaccine the “mark of the beast.”
After being removed from social media, he offered to buy the right-wing social network Parler.
During Paris Fashion Week, the rapper walked as a model on Balenciaga’s ready-to-wear show, which designer Gvasalia called an “iconic moment” at the time. He was later spotted at the Givenchy collection wearing black dental braces from Balenciaga.
Ye was also criticized that week for wearing a shirt reading “White Lives Matter” to his Yeezy collection show in Paris, and the shirt also appeared on the runway itself. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, White Lives Matter is a white supremacist group.
In recent weeks, Ye ended Yeezy’s collaboration with Gap and told Bloomberg he plans to cut ties with his corporate suppliers. Adidas ended its sneaker deal with Ye, and JPMorganChase and Ye ended their business relationship—although the bank split was being planned before Ye’s antisemitic comments.
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Michal Záruba is a digital marketing specialist and a consultant in social media and SEO. For more than 8 years, Michal has been helping brands grow online through strategic content, search engine optimisation and effective communication on platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
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