Posted by Chicago, IL – Kanye West famously supports Donald Trump, often causing division among his fanbase. But as the country continues to riot and protest in the name of George Floyd, Ye is apparently taking action.
After donating roughly $2 million to the legal teams and families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, the G.O.O.D. Music boss stood in solidarity at a Black Lives Matter protest in his hometown of Chicago earlier this week.
Not only did Kanye West donate $2 million, he also joined protests today in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/bTeFPFNAGz
— Talking Rap ? (@talking_rap) June 5, 2020
In video of Kanye’s rare public sighting, the newly christened billionaire is wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, has a black mask on and keeps his hands in his front pocket as people take his picture. He’s also surrounded by what looks like his security.
While there’s not a lot of evidence of him saying much, it appears he was mingling with the crowd, walking side-by-side with fellow protestors and engaging in conversation.
View this post on Instagram#KanyeWest spotted protesting in Chicago! (Via: @kendragmedia)
Kanye’s gesture is undoubtedly puzzling for some. He’s been accused of not caring about black people for years. In a now-infamous TMZ Live moment in 2018, the tenured rapper blurted out “400 years of slavery sounds like a choice,” causing a firestorm of backlash.
Former TMZ staff member Van Lathan immediately checked Ye, saying, “I think what you’re doing right now is actually an afterthought. Kanye, you’re entitled to your opinion, you’re entitled to believe whatever you want, but there is fact and real-world, real-life consequence behind everything you just said.
Kanye West During TMZ Live: Slavery For 400 Years Sounds Like “A Choice”
“And while you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you’ve earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives. We have to deal with the marginalization that’s come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was a choice.”
While Kanye may have popped up at a protest, he has yet to speak publicly on the event of Floyd’s murder.