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Well, that was quick: just as abruptly as he became involved with them, Kanye West is now done with politics.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday, West opened a wide berth between himself and Washington, explaining that he has realized he's being played by political ideologues. "My eyes are now wide open and now realize I've been used to spread messages I don't believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative," Kanye tweeted.
My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing mys… https://t.co/o0RJeT0Nnc— ye (@ye)1540934707.0
The root of this particular awakening lies with controversial African-American commentator and Trump supporter Candace Owens.
Owens recently launched a campaign called "Blexit," meant to encourage black voters to leave the Democratic Party.
There is no group in America that has been more lied to, more abused, or more taken advantage of by the Democrats t… https://t.co/YJLzppkOJq— Candace Owens (@Candace Owens)1540739984.0
Blexit was a campaign that already existed, and had nothing to do with Owens's aims: it was launched to encourage Black citizens to support black-owned banks.
African Americans started a campaign called #Blexit last year. Campaign encourages blacks to bank with black owned… https://t.co/iHWfRLA8X5— Bo Mbindwane (@Bo Mbindwane)1540748822.0
Owens recently launched a line of Blexit-themed apparel bearing a logo that she claimed Kanye had designed. But it seems that was far from the case. Rather, from Kanye's telling, Candace used Kanye's name when the logo's actual designer asked not to be involved in promoting it. Kanye went even farther, saying, "I never wanted any association with Blexit. I have nothing to do with it."
I introduced Candace to the person who made the logo and they didn’t want their name on it so she used mine. I neve… https://t.co/KGkIISMu05— ye (@ye)1540934700.0
Kanye went on to clarify the issues that he does wish to be associated with, and it's safe to say that many of them are not high on Trumpworld's list of priorities:
I support creating jobs and opportunities for people who need them the most, I support prison reform, I support com… https://t.co/ncMQqbeAY9— ye (@ye)1540930820.0
I support those who risk their lives to serve and protect us and I support holding people who misuse their power ac… https://t.co/iyJFaWnr38— ye (@ye)1540930822.0
He went on to thank "my family, loved ones, and community for supporting my ACTUAL beliefs and my vision for a better world."
Naturally, social media was alight with reactions to this change of direction:
@kanyewest who took your picture https://t.co/jtMvtbeJjG— jenten (@jenten)1540934868.0
@kanyewest Can we all agree to call this #Yexit?— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel Jollett)1540935400.0
October surprise how will it play https://t.co/yqeke3l0F8— Jon Favreau (@Jon Favreau)1540935103.0
Flipity flop. Flipty floopty flip flop scoop poop. https://t.co/FKJ1fFMgE9— Dave Weasel (@Dave Weasel)1540936344.0
But not everyone was impressed:
how many times a month are kanye's eyes finally now 'wide open' for the first time https://t.co/qrnoNIgZOb— Charlie Warzel (@Charlie Warzel)1540935178.0
Imma let you finish but @taylorswift13 had a far better PSA for the midterms https://t.co/4Zob89hVrY— Bradley P. Moss (@Bradley P. Moss)1540937135.0
@KidsSeeGhosts_ @kanyewest https://t.co/njqgC9OXi8— - (@-)1540935046.0
But if you're thinking Ye is now firmly on Team Resistance, not so fast: West was quick to clarify his tweets were not in reference to Trump himself, going so far as to contact TMZ to make it exactly clear he was speaking of being "used" only by Owens:
4:15 PM PT -- Kanye contacted us to make it clear he did not mention Donald Trump in his tweets, and he's getting out of politics altogether. As for being "used" ... he says he was specifically referencing Blexit, and that's it.
He always keeps you guessing, that Kanye.