** Warning: Some comments transcribed in this article may shock you. **
On Oct. 18, Kanye West and the parent company of conservative social network Parler announced “a major media agreement in favor of freedom of expression.” In fact, Kanye bought Parler, one of America’s New Right Twitter clones.
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Since the takeover, and particularly since his temporary or near-permanent suspension from Twitter and Instagram, Kanye West seems to be taking full advantage of the “paradise” of freedom of expression that the social network Parler aspires to be (that is, posting even more comments on trends anti-Semites), without the price and having to pay the consequences.
Twitter screenshot.
An example of a publication that led to the suspension of Kanye West by a social network (here Twitter): an anti-Semitic message addressed to Mark Zuckerberg.
A discovery of Kanye’s behavior on the alt-right site also allows us to better understand how it works and, in particular, to see if this acquisition has potential other than just media.
Anti-Semitic “negotiation” on anti-Semitic “negotiation”
Rolling Stone was there for an article. We did the same to see if “Ye” would keep his actions to his word after apologizing to the Jewish people after breaking his contract binding him to Adidas.
Going back to the date of his second suspension, we actually see that he simply shared the same post that banned him, a screenshot of a conversation with Russell Simmons in which West says he wants to stay in America to rebuild his empire to ” to convince Jewish business people to make contracts fair. Or die trying.
Screenshot @Ye / Talk
Revisiting the anti-Semitic post at the source of his recent Instagram suspension, by Kanye West on Parler.
In a follow-up post, West then lashed out at his former attorney, Bob Cohen, and his Jewish business practices, in response to his former partner allegedly telling him that if he continued with these kinds of talks, he could risk losing Joint custody their children.
Screenshot @Ye / Talk
Two posts with anti-Semitic tendencies from Kanye West to Parler, here against his former attorney Robert Cohen.
West then added that when he opposes Jewish business practices, “he whispers what everyone thinks” and that “Jesus is King.” We can also see some reports in the comments “endorsing” the rapper’s anti-Semitic remarks.
Screenshot @Ye / Talk
Another very biased post from Kanye West, and comments that are just as much in response to this one.
The series of publications also included a literal definition of anti-Semitism, a message of disappointment to Q-Tip, the MC of the legendary group A Tribe Called Quest, and messages insulting figures such as Maverick Carter or former NBA player Stephen Jackson.
Screenshot @Ye / Talk
Series of posts by Kanye West on Parler.
Ensuring relevance to the platform: difficult task
As Politico reminds us, if Kanye’s arrival on the platform was seen as something miraculous that allowed him to continue his expansion in the American conservative ecosystem, the fact remains that the platform has structural issues and that the “safe space” den Parler offers is also a reason for many advertisers or hosters to flee from working with the network.
As a reminder, the application has been temporarily banned from the Android and Apple app stores due to the exponential and unchecked proliferation of hateful and anti-Semitic content. This forced the parent company at the time to change their moderation policy.
Additionally, the network is struggling to create the image of a stronghold in the right-wing ecosystem, with just 1.2 million in September, compared to 8.9 million visits for the Truth, according to the same Politico article. Social by Donald Trump.
After all, the network only has 40,000 daily active users, in contrast to Twitter and its 237 million daily active users.
The new owner must build on its numbers to offer an alternative to Twitter and even to Truth Social in the online microblogging ecosystem.
What about Quebecers on Parler?
Our walk in the social network alt-right Parler did not allow us to meet several profiles of figures from the conservative and conspiratorial sphere of Quebec. The content of this site is primarily American and intended for an English-speaking readership.
In fact, for that fringe of their members who seem to have left the site, the site isn’t really active anymore. For example, Radio-Québec conspirator Alexis Cossette-Trudel hasn’t shared any content in a year.
Screenshot @RadioQuébec / Talk
Notorious conspiracy theorist Alexis Cossette-Trudel’s account of Parler.
Only one French-speaking Québec blogger named “Soshin” (and Nancy) appears to be active and posting content related to his personal website on Buddhist and New Age scriptures or memes.
Screenshot @lesoshin / Talk
A screenshot of this Quebec blogger’s talk page.
A notorious French-speaking conspirator, Sylvie Fourcade, continues to publish on a regular basis.
Screenshot @sylviefourcade / Talk
An example of post-conspiracy by Sylvie Fourcade.
This is because many members of the alt-right and conspi sphere in Quebec have migrated to platforms that are more visited and pay less attention to their comments, such as Gab, Odyssey, Telegram… and YouTube. like that,’ explained our colleague Francis Pilon in an article about a conspirator who raised $60,000 in one month.
Screenshot @Ali / Talk
The report of the American conspirator in connection with the attempted coup and attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Ali Alexander.
As for the stars of Trumpism and the American right, when certain figures like Ali Alexander above, one of the organizers of the January 5, 2021 demonstrations in Washington DC that escalated into an attack on Capitol Hill the next day, continue to parler post , most of the accounts of the great figures of this movement have not been published on the platform for 1 year or more.