Ye, previously known as Kanye West, has seen his Yeezy website taken down following widespread criticism stemming from his sale of a T-shirt featuring a swastika. The rapper’s website, which utilized Shopify for its e-commerce operations, was removed after Shopify determined that Ye had breached the platform’s terms of service. According to a spokesperson for Shopify, “All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform. This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms, so we removed them from Shopify.”
Visitors to the Yeezy website are now met with an error message indicating that the store is unavailable. In a notable turn of events, prior to the website’s removal, Ye had aired a Super Bowl commercial aimed at promoting the Yeezy brand. Shot on an iPhone during a dental appointment, the commercial featured Ye showcasing his diamond-encrusted teeth and urging fans to visit Yeezy.com.
Over the weekend, before deactivating his X account, Ye engaged in a series of social media tirades replete with antisemitic and misogynistic comments, even expressing admiration for Hitler and calling for the release of fellow artist Diddy. These remarks have drawn significant backlash, with various public figures and organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and actor David Schwimmer, vocally condemning his rhetoric. Charlie Puth also reached out via Instagram, urging Ye to cease his harmful message by highlighting the influential role he has on millions.
The incident underscores the serious consequences of hate speech and the importance of responsible communication. There is hope that this moment might encourage more dialogue around acceptance and understanding, leading to positive change within communities impacted by such divisive rhetoric.