Kanye West is accused of engaging in pro-Hitler and pro-Nazi rants in the workplace years before his latest anti-Semitism scandal.
According to a new report from NBC News, the rapper, who goes by the name Ye, paid severance pay to a former worker who claimed to have seen him praise Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in work meetings. West – who has faced consequences in recent weeks following fresh anti-Semitic comments – denied the claims in the settlement agreement, obtained by the news outlet.
The outlet spoke to that former employee, as well as six other people who worked or had dealings with West in a professional setting, and they told NBC News they had overheard West praising Hitler or discussing conspiracy theories about Jews seven years ago. Of the six, three were former employees or associates and three were present when West allegedly confessed his love for the German dictator during a 2018 TMZ interview.
One of those who went onto the record was concept artist Ryder Ripps, who worked with West between 2014 and 2018. Ripps, who is Jewish, recalled several occasions when the performer/clothing designer praised Hitler at meetings.
Seven former associates of Kanye West allege he spread pro-Hitler gibberish seven years ago. (Photo: Stéphane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
“He had been telling me a lot of shit about how ‘Nazis are good at propaganda,'” Ripps told the outlet. He also recalled Ye asking, “‘You’re not offended because I’m interested in Nazis or something?'” while referring to a Jewish employee who was. He also claimed West frequently said, “Jews have the codes.”
Ripp said he would push back on West’s comments but didn’t consider them dangerous. Given West’s recent anti-Semitic comments, “With this pattern that’s happening, and with the doubling and tripling of all of this, it’s pretty obvious that this is some kind of disgusting, hateful, weird Nazi obsession.”
Another former employee, who could not be identified but worked at West for three years, said West would randomly say things like “I even love Hitler” and then look around the room to see how people reacted. The former staffer said that at a 2018 meeting, West said Hitler had “some good qualities” and “he wasn’t entirely bad.”
The story goes on
Three former TMZ employees recalled West’s comments about Nazis and Hitler – and spoke about the confrontation with a Jewish producer that followed. One of the former TMZ employees said the only response from West they recalled was the “Gold Digger” singer smiling. They claimed they were instructed by TMZ boss Harvey Levin not to post West’s anti-Semitic comments on the site.
West’s rep did not comment on the claims to NBC News for the report. (West has changed his representation several times in recent weeks.)
This is the second report of this type of comparison in the last week. Last Thursday, CNN reported that a businessman who worked with West accused him of creating a hostile work environment through an “obsession” with Hitler and also received a settlement.
“He praised Hitler by saying how incredible it was that he was able to amass so much power and to talk about all the great things that he and the Nazi Party achieved for the German people,” she said identified person of this point of sale.
West has publicly made a series of anti-Semitic statements in the last month – including accusing Jews of a “Holocaust” against black Americans. It started when West wore a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt, a slogan associated with white supremacists, to the YZY show at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 3. Shortly thereafter, his Instagram and Twitter accounts were suspended after he posted about his intention to “go to his death.” [sic] con 3 About JEWISH PEOPLE.”
West’s Adidas deal was subsequently terminated, which reportedly cost him $2 billion. CAA dropped him as a customer, Balenciaga cut ties with him, Gap rushed to remove products from their previous business from stores. His music streams and airplay took a nosedive, and his Donda Academy was shut down. He was in spite of the business cancellations, saying, “We here baby. We’re not going anywhere.”
West, who suffers from bipolar disorder, continues to bang his drum on social media. Three days ago, he posted a photo of Brooklyn Nets NBA player Kyrie Irving, who recently promoted the anti-Semitic film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America. West praised Irving, writing, “There are still some real ones here.” However, on the last day, Irving apologized for the “negative impact my post has had on the Jewish community” and made a $500,000 donation “to causes and organizations working to eradicate hatred and intolerance in our communities.” His team matched that.
West’s post, praising Irving for his support of the anti-Semitic film, stands.